P - the behavioural approach to explaining phobias (A03) Flashcards
What is a strength of the behavioural approach to explaining phobias? - Strong supportive evidence
===> Little Albert (Watson, 1920) empirical evidence that classical conditioning leads to acquiring a phobia (apply CC to white rat, fear and loud noise). Increases validity of behaviorism - that phobias are learnt through interaction with the environment and not opposing evolutionary theory
What is a limitation of the behavioural approach to explaining phobias? - Can’t explain phobias where a person has never encountered/experiences the phobic stimuli
===> Bounton (2007) highlights evolutionary factors and effects of a particular stimulus harmful to our ancestry - some phobias are innate not learnt. Seligman (1971) describes it as bilogical preparedness as it’s an innate predisposition some have which casts doubt on Mowrer’s two-process model that phobias are acquired through learning by association
What is a limitation of the behavioural approach to explaining phobias? - Ignores the role of cognition and too reductionist
===> Cognitivists argue phobias develop as result of irrational thinking and not just learning. Irrational thoughts aren’t taken to account in the explanation. CBT as a treatment for phobias is more effective than behavioural treatments of flooding and systematic desensitisation so implies cognitive aspect of phobias are more significant than stimulus-response link
What is a strength of the behavioural approach to explaining phobias? - Data for successful behavioural treatments
===> This explanation states phobias are unlearnt so suggests they can be unlearnt through counter conditioning, replacing CS-CR link with relaxation. McGrath et al (1990) reported 75% of phobic patients responded to SD - behavioural valid to some extent and improved daily lives of phobia sufferers (real world value)
