Psychopathology(behavioural approach to explaining phobias)

Question 1

Proposes that phobias are learnt from what? And define it.

Answer 1

-Two-process model
-Theory which explain that two processes lead to explain phobias.
-Begin through classical conditioning and are maintained by operant conditioning.

Question 2

Initiation of Classical conditioning -

Answer 2

• A phobias is a acquired through an association, the association of NS which can be a furry white rat and a UCS loud noise results in a new stimulus response, E.G little Albert study

Question 3

Classical conditioning process of phobias -

Answer 3

In the case of Little Albert.
UCS is the loud noise (banging) and results in an UCR of fear due to the loud noise.
After constant paring of the two stimuli through the acquisition phase. The fury object brings about the same response as the loud noise. Therefore the NS is now the Conditioned stimulus bringing about a conditioned response of fear. This is because Albert had associated the fluffy rat with fear.

Question 4

Little Albert study - Watson and Rayne

Answer 4

For example, Watson and Rayner (1920) paired an initially neutral stimulus (a white rat) with an unconditioned stimulus (a loud noise). This produced the unconditioned response of fear in a baby known as Little Albert. After making this pairing four times, Little Albert produced a conditioned fear response when they presented him with the rat in the absence of the UCS.

• Subject was an 11 month year old baby
• Where at the beginning of the study he showed no fear to the white fluffy object (NS)
• Created a conditioned response to these natural objects
• When he went out to reach them they struck a metal bar to startle them. Repeated 3 times and then a week later
• When they presented him the fury rat he began to cry.

Question 5

Maintenance of operant conditioning -

Answer 5

• Initiated through classical conditioning
• Maintained through operant conditioning
  The likelihood of a behaviour being maintained/repeated if the outcome is rewarding. The idea of it being related to a phobia may suggest that the avoidance or escape from the phobia (stimulus) reduces the fear and reinforces the conditioning. E.G this is an example of negative reinforcement (escaping from an unpleasant situation).

Question 6

Incomplete explanation for Classical conditioning -

Answer 6

When a NS becomes associated with a fearful experience the result should be a phobia but this isn’t always the case. Research has suggested that when everyone is bitten by a dog as an example of negative experience being initiated by a NS they do not always form a phobia. This may be explained by the diathesis-stress model were a genetic vulnerability of developing a mental disorder, but this disorder will only be explained if it is triggered by a live event like a dog bite. Therefore the phobia would only be initiated in some with the genetic vulnerability which may explain individual differences and the idea the initiation of classical conditioning isn’t always proposed to the leading of phobias.

Question 7

Support from social learning theory -

Answer 7

Bandura’s research can support social learning as an explanation for phobia development, for example modelers acted in pain when a buzzer was sounded, later on those who watched imitated an emotional reaction to the buzzer which demonstrated an acquired feared response, suggests modelling of behaviours may lead to the acquisition of phobias.