Psychopathology: Behavioural approach to explaining phobias Flashcards
What is the behavioural approach?
Two-process model (CC+OC)
Who created the two-process model?
Mowrer (1947)
What did Mowrer suggest?
Suggests phobias are first learnt via association (CC) and then maintained via reinforcement (OC).
How is classical conditioning linked to phobias?
- NS not producing a phobic response.
- NS presented with UCS and produces UCR.
- NS associated with UCS
- NS is now CS and UCR is now CR. (Generalisation)
What is evidence of CC causing phobias?
Watson - Little Albert (1920)
-Paired loud bang (UCS) with a white rat (CS)
Little Albert evaluation?
- Doesn’t show ‘real life’ phobias happen this way.
- DiNardo (1988): ‘dog phobics’ could recall being bitten, but over half did not go onto develop phobia.
How is operant conditioning linked to phobias?
Avoiding situations that may bring person into contact with the phobic object has the consequences of reducing anxiety.
-Pleasant sensation acts as a negative reinforcement.
What is evidence of OC + phobias?
DiNardo
What was DiNardo study?
Found more than half of people bitten didn’t develop a phobia of dogs.
-Could explain specific phobias e.g. avoid going park to avoid dogs.
What is a negative of DiNardo findings?
Difficult to explain cases with no history with phobic object.
What are positives of behavioural approach in explaining phobias?
- Explains the role of CC in development of phobias.
- Theories lead to effective counter conditioning treatments (flooding + systematic desensitisation)
- Has face validity.
- Supported by Little Albert.
What is against behavioural approach of explaining phobias?
- DiNardo.
- Phobias such as snakes, birds, and dogs could have an evolutionary origin. This is a biological theory going against behavioural.
