Phobia Explanation

Question 1

Which approach is used to Phobias

Answer 1

Behaviourist Approach

Question 2

Behavioural Explanation

Answer 2

Two-Process Model. Mowrer (1960) proposed this model based on the behavioural approach to phobias. This states that phobias are acquired through classical and then maintained by operant conditioning.

Question 3

Classical Conditioning

Answer 3

Involves learning to associate something which we have no fear with something that already trigger a fear response. Little Albert - (Watson and Rayner (1920) presented a white rat (neutral stimulus) with a loud noise (unconditioned stimulus). This UCS creates an unconditioned response of fear. The rat then becomes associated with this fear response after a period of time. The rat becomes the conditioned stimulus as it now creates a conditioned response of fear on its own. This conditioning is then generalised to other similar objects.

Question 4

Operant Conditioning

Answer 4

Behaviour is reinforced. Negative reinforcement is used to maintain the phobia. When they avoid the phobic stimulus they escape the fear and anxiety that they would have experienced so this reduction in emotions reinforces the avoidance behaviour and the phobia is maintained.

Question 5

Strength (A)

Answer 5

Real world application.
A key aspect is that phobia’s are maintained through avoidance and so to overcome the phobia they need to face this which is what exposure therapies do.
The exposure prevents it being reinforced so avoidance declines and the phobia becomes extinct as it is no longer maintained. This means it has been successfully applied to treatments giving it greater validity.

Question 6

Weakness

Answer 6

Does not consider cognitive aspect.
For example, people who hold irrational beliefs about the phobic stimulus do not just show an avoidance response.
This model only explains the behavioural aspects not considering other components which makes it reductionists and less valid.
Furthermore… also does not consider emotional characteristics of fear and anxiety which can make exposure therapy so distressing and so if the cognitive aspect was considered then maybe the treatment wouldn’t have to be like this and would take more a cognitive approach and not behavioural.

Question 7

Strength (R)

Answer 7

Evidence link between bad experiences and phobias.
Jongh et al (2006) found 73% of people with a fear of dental treatment had a traumatising experience involving dentistry.
Shows how traumatising experience can lead to a phobia as it become associated with a fear response.
However… not all phobias follow from a bad experience. For example lots of people are scared of snakes but very few have had a traumatising experience with snakes so could be due to our evolutionary past where snakes posed a threat which is preparedness. Therefore it cannot explain all phobias.