Psychopathology - 03 (1-The behavioural approach to explaining phobias)

Question 1

Who created the 2 process model?

Answer 1

Mowrer (1960)

Question 2

What are the 2 parts of the 2 process model?

Answer 2

1-phobias start through classical conditioning (association)
2-phobias are maintained through operant conditioning (negative reinforcement - removal of something unpleasant)

Question 3

Explain classical conditioning in terms of phobias

Answer 3

-humans naturally fear pain and so fear response to pain is unconditioned
-when this unconditioned response is associated with a neutral stimulus through experience, then a person can become conditioned to associate the response (fear with the stimulus.
-this is based on the work of Ivan Pavlov

Question 4

Key study: little Albert

Answer 4

-Watson & Rayner (1920)
-11 month old baby given a white rat to play with
-he did not demonstrate a fear response towards the rat initially but the researchers then made a loud noise which frightened him
-this was repeated several times, after which Albert demonstrated fear behaviour when presented with the rat even without the loud noise
-They created a conditioned response to a previously neutral object

Question 5

Explain operant conditioning in terms of phobias

Answer 5

-the avoidance of the phobia object reduces fear and is therefore reinforcing
-this is an example of negative reinforcement as the individual avoids the anxiety created by avoiding them completely

Question 6

evaluation: behavioural explanation of phobias (phobias that do not follow trauma)

Answer 6

-not all phobias are the result of a bad experience and negative associations
-this suggests that classical conditioning cannot be the only explanation for how we develop phobias and other explanations need to be investigated

Question 7

evaluation: behavioural explanation of phobias (alternative explanation - biological preparedness)