⚫ Psychopathology: Behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Question 1

What is the behavioural approach

Answer 1

A way of explaining behaviour in term of what is observable and in terms of learning

Question 2

State what the two-process model is

Answer 2

A behavioural approach explaining phobias, suggesting that phobias are acquired by classical conditions due to operant conditioning

Question 3

Who proposed the two-process model

Answer 3

Mowrer (1960)

Question 4

What year did Mowrer propose the two-process model

Answer 4

1960

Question 5

Outline a study which demonstrates ‘acquisition by classical conditioning’

Answer 5

• Watson and Rayner created a phobia in 9-month-old ‘Little Albert’ (who showed no unusual anxiety at the start of the study)
• Initially when shown a white rat, he tried to play with it BUT to instil a phobia onto him the researchers made loud, frightening sound (by banging an iron bar close to Alberts ear) when presenting him with a white rat
• This unconditioned stimulus created an unconditioned response of fear
• SO WHEN the neutral stimulus (rat) + unconditioned stimulus (noise) where encountered close together - Albert associated the rat with fear
• SO the rat is NOW a learned conditioned stimulus which produces a conditioned response of fear
• Conditioning then generalised to similar objects eg. non white rabbit, fur coat, Watson wearing a Santa Claus bears made out of cotton balls - which Albert showed distress to all

Question 6

Who conducted a study demonstrating the ‘acquisition by classical conditioning

Answer 6

Watson and Rayner (1920)

Question 7

What similar objects (to the white rat) did Albert show distress at the sight of as a result of learning

Answer 7

• A non white rabbit
• A fur coat
• Watson wearing a Santa Claus bears made out of cotton balls

Question 8

In what year did Watson and Rayner conduct a study demonstrating ‘acquisition by classical conditioning

Answer 8

1920

Question 9

How has Mowrer explained phobias often-being long lasting (bc classical conditioning tends to decline over time)

Answer 9

• That phobias are often long-lasting because they are maintained by operant conditioning - by both positive and negative reinforcement

Question 10

What two types of reinforcement can allow maintenance by operant conditioning

Answer 10

• Negative and positive reinforcement

Question 11

What is reinforcement in regards to maintenance by operant conditioning

Answer 11

Behaviour being punished or rewarded

Question 12

Explain ‘maintenance by operant conditioning’, including the role of negative reinforcement

Answer 12

• Phobias developed by classical conditioning are maintained through operant conditioning
• In terms of negative reinforcement - an individual develops avoidance strategy which results in reduced fear and anxiety, which reinforces the behaviour

Question 13

What are the strengths of the two-process method as a behavioural approach of phobias

Question 14

What are the limitations of the two-process method as a behavioural approach of phobias

Question 15

What are the evaluation points for two-process model as a behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Answer 15

• Real-world application in exposure therapies

Question 16

What is positive reinforcement

Answer 16

Stimulus presented to increase behaviour

Question 17

What is negative reinforcement

Answer 17

When the behaviour removes unpleasant stimuli - overtime, behaviour increases with the expectation that the stimuli would be taken away

Question 18

Outline real-world application of exposure therapy as a strength of the two-process model

Answer 18

• A strength is that there is real world application of exposure therapy
• E.g the two process model explains that phobia are maintained by avoiding the phobic stimuli, and this explains the importance in being exposed phobic stimuli. It shows that preventing the avoidance behaviour stops the negative reinforcement (the reduction of anxiety) so avoidant behaviour declines
• This shows the value of the two process model because it identifies the means of treating phobias

Question 19

Outline the two-process model not accounting for cognitive aspects of phobias being a limitation of the two-process model

Answer 19

• A limitation is that the two process model doesn’t account for cognitive aspects of phobias
• E.g. The model is geared towards behaviours such the avoidance of the phobic through operant conditioning
• However, phobias have a significant cognitive component. For instance, people hold irrational beliefs about the phobic stimulus (such as believing that spiders are dangerous)
• This shows the two process model lacks an adequate explanation for phobic cognitions and doesn’t completely explain the symptoms of phobias

Question 20

Outline the evidence linking phobias and traumatic events and how it strengthens the two process model as a behavioural explanation of phobias

Answer 20

• A strength is that there is evidence that supports the link between phobias and bad experiences
• E.g Ad De Jongh et al (2006) found that 73% of people w/ a fear of dental treatment had a bad experience (most involving dentistry and a few being victims of a violent crime). This compared to a control group with low dental anxiety where only 21% had experience a traumatic event supports the idea that there is a correlation between traumatic events and phobias
• Furthermore, it confirms that a neutral stimulus (dentistry) combined with an unconditional response (pain) leads to the development of phobias

Question 21

Outline the counterpoint of the evidence linking phobias and traumatic events and how it limits the two process model as a behavioural explanation of phobias

Answer 21

• Not all phobias appear after having a bad experience
• E.g Common phobias such as snakes occur in populations where very few ppl have encountered them - let alone have a bad experience
• This shows that the association between bad experiences and phobias is not as strong as we would expect, especially going of the results the dentist study
• Furthermore it supports the idea that the two-process model is an incomplete explanation