psychopathology - behavioural approach to phobias Flashcards
what dose the behaviourist approach emphasise
the role of learning in the acquisition of behaviour.
who proposed the two process model
Mowrer (1960)
what dose the two process model state
phobias are acquired by classical conditioning and then maintained by operant conditioning.
how dose classical condition effect phobias
learning to associate something we initially have no fear of (a neutral stimulus) with something that already triggers a fear response (an unconditioned stimulus).
example of classical conditioning
1) The UCS triggers a response
2) NS is associated with the UCS
3) The NS becomes a CS producing fear
experiment on conditioned fear
little Albert.
fear also generalises to similar objects.
how dose operant condition effect phobias
Mowrer argued that phobias are maintained by operant conditioning.
Operant conditioning takes place when our behaviour is reinforced or punished
what dose negative reinforcement do
Negative reinforcement is when an individual produces behaviour that avoids something unpleasant. escape the anxiety
reduction in fear negatively reinforces the avoidance behaviour and the phobia is maintained.
example of negative reinforcement
morbid fear of clowns, they will avoid circuses
relief felt from avoiding clowns negatively reinforces the phobia
One strength of the two-process model
real-world application.
avoidance is important in explaining why people with phobias benefit from exposure therapies such as systematic desensitisation.
identifies a means of treating phobias
One limitation of the two-process model
inability to explain cognitive aspects of phobias.
geared towards explaining behaviour – in this case avoidance of the phobic stimulus.
phobias also have a significant cognitive component, for example people hold irrational beliefs about the phobic stimulus.
does not completely explain the symptoms of phobias.
one way of treating phobias
systematic desensitisation
behavioural therapy designed to gradually reduce phobic anxiety through the principle of classical conditioning.
a new response to the phobic stimulus is learned ( counterconditioning. )
what are the three processes of systematic desensitisation called
1) The anxiety hierarchy - least to most frightening.
2) Relaxation - least to most frightening.
reciprocal inhibition.
3) Exposure - exposed to the phobic stimulus while in a relaxed state.
strength of systematic desensitisation
usefulness for people with learning disabilities.
alternatives to SD are unsutible
cognitive therapies require a high level of rational thought and flooding is distressing.
does not require understanding or engagement on a cognitive level and is not a traumatic experience.
one another way of helping phobias?
flooding
exposing people with a phobia to their phobic stimulus. immediate exposure to a very frightening situation.
Flooding stops phobic responses quickly.
person quickly learns that the phobic object is harmless - extinction.
