Psychopathology - Behavioural explanations of Phobias Flashcards
how does the behavioural approach explain phobias
the behavioural approach is focused on explaining the behaviours created by the phobia and does not explain the cognitive or emotional features of phobias
Who applied the two-process model to phobias
Mowrer 1960
What was Mowrer 1960’s two-process model
he theorised that phobias are learnt (acquired) by classical conditioning and then continued because of operant conditioning.
Describe the aquisition of the phobia by classical conditioning
- Involves learning to associate something of which we initially have no fear (neutral stimulus) with something that already triggers a fear response (unconditional response).
1. Phobic objects start as a neutral stimulus (NS)
2. if it is then paired with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS), which produces an unconditioned response (UCR) the NS will become associated with the UCS.
3. Then the UCS and then the fear (phobia), will occur whenever the NS is there
4. The NS becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS) and the UCR becomes the conditioned response (CR)
This conditioning is then generalised to similar objects
describe the maintenance by operant conditioning
- Behaviour is reinforced (rewarded) or punished
- Negative reinforcement = individual avoids a situation or stimulus. This results in a desirable consequence = repeated behaviour
- Reduction of fear reinforces the avoidance behaviour = phobia being maintained
describe Little Albert 1920
Aim was to give Albert a phobia by using classical conditioning. / to investigate whether phobias can be learned.
Albert showed no anxiety at the beginning of the study when he was introduced to a variety of animals.
When shown a white rat he tried to play with it. However, whenever the rat was presented to him after, the experimenters made a loud frightening noise by banging an iron bar close to Alberts head.
break down the conditioning present for little Albert 1920
The noise is the UCS which creates an UCR of fear.
When the rat the NS and the UCS are encountered close together in time the NS becomes associated with the UCS, and both now produce the fear response – albert became frightened when he saw the rat.
The rat is now the CR.
This conditioning is generalised to similar objects.
What happened after the initial experiment on little Albert 1920
They tested Albert by showing him other furry objects such as a non-white rabbit, a fur coat and Watson wearing a Santa Claus beard and mask. Little Albert displayed distress at the sight of all of these.
Who carried out the little Albert experiment in 1920
John Watson and Rosalie Rayner
what is an ethical weaknesses of the Little Albert experiment
Ethical - It was an unethical experiment at he wasnt from psychological harm (doesn’t need a this means that for this precise thing) additionally they didnt recondition him to not be frightened.
What is a methodological weakness of the little Albert experiment
methodological - lab created fear so may not reflect phobias in real life
what are the strengths of the behavioural explanation of phobias
- A strength is that the two-process model has real-world application, it explains using two distinctive elements how phobias are both created and maintained. It is supported by Watson and Rayner’s ‘Little Albert’ study which shows how a frightening experience can be conditioned.
- Implications for therapy – explains why patients need to be exposed to the feared stimulus.
What are the limitations of the behavioural explanation of phobias
- The two-process model doesnt account for the cognitive processes associated with phobias, behavioural explanations focus on the cause.
- Doesn’t explain avoidance is to reduce the anxiety
- Not all phobias appear following a bad experience
- Evolutionary factors (Bouton 2007)
- Biological Preparedness (Seligman 1971)
state and describe 2 alternative explanations of phobias
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Evolutionary factors -Bouton 2007 we easily acquire phobias of things which may have been a source of danger in our past
eg. snakes, dark - Biological Preparedness - Seligman 1971 innate predisposition to acquire certain fears more to phobias than just conditioning.
How is phobias not always appearing from experience a limitation of the behavioural explanation of phobias
Not all phobias appear following a bad experience and the phobia of snakes is evidenced in many people who have no experience of them, which does not support the two-process model.
