Phobias - Behavioural Flashcards
The Behavioural Approach to Explaining Phobias
Behaviorists assume behaviour is learned through conditioning, rather than inherited. Behaviorists principles can account for how people develop phobias by applying the two process model. Social learning may also play a part.
Explain The Two- Process Model
Mowrer proposed the two process model incorporating both classical and operant conditioning to explain the initiation and persistence of phobias respectively
Explain: The Two-Process Model - Classical Conditioning Initation
Watson and Rayner demonstrated initiation of phobia in Little Albert who startled with fear (UCR) to a loud noise (UCS) a UCS was paired several times with a white rat (NS). The Rat (CS) eventually elicited fear (CR) in the absence of the loud noise.
Little Alberts phobia generalised to other furry objects.
Explain: The Two-Process Model - Operant Conditioning: Maintenance
Maintenance involves operant conditioning - the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated is increased if the outcome is rewarding.
Escape from the phobic stimulus reduces fear and is negatively reinforced.
Avoidance of the phobic stimulus altogether is positively reinforcing because anxiety is averted.
Social Learning Explanation for Phobias
Social Learning Theory is not part of the two-process model. it is a more recent development of behaviorism.
Phobias may also be acquired through observing significant others model behaviour.
Eg Parent responding to a spider with fear may lead a child to imitate similar behaviour because behaviour appears rewarding (ie the fearful person gets attention)
Evaluate the Behavioural approach to explaining phobia:
The Importance of classical conditioning
Phobics can often recall a specific incident when their phobia appeared for example being bitten by a dog. However not all phobics can do this. Phobias may result from different processes such as agoraphobics not being able to recall a specific incident. Whereas Arachnophobia were most likely to cite modelling as the cause.
Evaluate the Behavioural approach to explaining phobia:
Diathesis-stress model
Research have found that not everyone who is traumatised by something develops a phobia. The diathesis-stress model could explain that we inherit a genetic vulnerability for developing a mental disorder.
However it only manifests itself if triggered by a traumatic event.
People without this vulnerability would not develop a phobia.
Evaluate the Behavioural approach to explaining phobia:
Support for social learning
Bandura supported the social learning explanation. in the experiment a model acted as if he was in pain every time a buzzer sounded. Later on those participants who had observed this showed an emotional reaction to the buzzer, demonstrating an acquired ‘fear’ response.
Evaluate the Behavioural approach to explaining phobia:
Biological Preparedness
Animals including humans are genetically programmed to rapidly learn to fear certain stimuli (snakes, strangers) because they are potentially life-threatening.
This biological preparedness means that behavioral explanations alone cannot explain the development of phobias.
Evaluate the Behavioural approach to explaining phobia:
Two-Process Theory ignores cognitive factors
The Cognitive approach proposes that phobias may develop not through conditioning but at the consequence of irrational thinking.
For example “i could become trapped in a lift and suffocate” is an irrational thought that could trigger extreme anxiety and develop a phobia.
Cognitive therapies designed to treat this such as CBT may be more successful than the behaviorist treatment for certain phobias
The Behavioural Approach To Treating Phobias
Phobias may persist because phobics avoid the phobic stimulus so do not unlearn the fear. Systematic desensitisation is based on the following
Counterconditioning
Relaxation
Desensitation Hierarchy
Explain Counterconditioning
Using classical conditioning, the patient learns a new association that runs counter to the original one.
They associate the phobic stimulus with relaxation instead of fear, thus becoming desensitised.
Psychologists Wolpe called this ‘reciprocal inhibition’ because relaxation inhibits the anxiety.
Explain Relaxation
The patient learns relaxation techniques controlled breathing; visualising a peaceful scene. Progressive muscle relaxation is also used to relax one muscle group at a time.
Explain Desensitation Hierarchy
Systematic desensitsation works by gradually introducing the person to the feared situation at each stage the patient practices relaxation so their anxiety diminishes.
Explain Flooding
Instead of Systematic Desensitisation the patient can be taught relaxation techniques then practise them while being exposed in one long session to the phobic object.
The exposure can be in actual or virtual reality. The fear response has a time limit and, as it is exhasted, a new association between the feared stimulus and relaxation is learned.
