PS5. Behavioural Approach to Explaining Phobias

Question 1

Behavioural Approach (Mowrer’s)

Answer 1

• phobias acquired through classical conditioning, then maintained through operant conditioning
• e.g. Watson and Rayner: Little Albert associated fear of loud bang with white rat. Then generalised fear to other white objects

Question 2

Operant Conditioning

Answer 2

• occurs when behaviour is either rewarded or punished
• e.g. phobias practice avoidance behaviours (avoid phobic stimulus), which means they avoid the associated fear
• by avoiding the unpleasant consequence, the avoidance behaviour is negatively reinforced, and will therefore be repeated again; hence maintaining the phobia

Question 3

• Eval: Buck’s Alternative Explanation

Answer 3

• safety is a greater motivator for avoidance behaviour, instead of avoiding the anxiety
• e.g. social anxiety phobias; sufferers can venture out but only with a trusted friend, despite still being exposed to hundreds of strangers which would usually trigger their anxiety.
• therefore, Mowrer’s explanation may be limited

Question 4

• Eval: Seligman’s Alternative Explanation

Answer 4

• more likely to have phobias toward ‘prepared stimuli’
• that which pose an evolutionary threat (e.g. fire, deep eater)
• therefore running away increased likelihood of survival and reproduction (evolutionary advantage)