Psychopathology- Behavioural Expressions Of Phobias

Question 1

What is the behavioural approach?

Answer 1

Behaviourism is a theory of learning which states or behaviours are learned through interaction with the environment through a process called classical conditioning. Behaviour simply Iriss response to an environmental stimuli.

Question 2

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 2

Learning through associations.

Question 3

What are the two most famous research associated with classical conditioning?

Answer 3

Pavlov’s dogs and Watson and little Albert.

Question 4

Explain the research of Pavlov’s dogs.

Question 5

Explain the research of Watson Little Albert.

Answer 5

Little Albert was conditioned to associate a white rat with a feared response.
This phobia was then generalised to other furry white objects. Little Albert showed anxiety when exposed to a fur coat, cotton wall and Watson wearing a Santa Claus beard.

Question 6

What is Mowrer’s (1960)) to process model?

Answer 6

Mowrer (1960) use the learning theory to propose the behavioural explanation of phobias through a two process model.
He proposed that:
1. Phobias are required or initiated through classical conditioning.
2. phobias are maintained or continued through operant conditioning.

Question 7

How are phobias initiated?

Answer 7

There are initiated through classical conditioning.
According to the behavioural approach a phobia is acquired to learning an association. For example, classical conditioning can explain why someone develops a fear of dogs after being bitten.

Question 8

How are phobias maintained?

Answer 8

They are maintained by operant conditioning. A person avoids a feared object to reduce anxiety and is therefore rewarding.

Question 9

What is the unconditioned stimulus (UCS)?

Answer 9

This is a stimulus that automatically illicit and unconditional response.
In Pavlov’s experiment, food was the unconditional stimulus.

Question 10

What is an unconditional response (UCR)?

Answer 10

It is the automatic response to an unconditional stimulus.
In Pavlov’s investigation, the salvation of the dog is the response to the food.

Question 11

What is a conditioned stimulus?

Answer 11

This is the stimulus that brings on a particular response after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus.
In Pavlovs investigation this is the bell. The ball had been paired with tasting food.

Question 12

What is the conditioned response?

Answer 12

This refers to a response that the condition stimulus illicit but only because it has previously been paired with the unconditioned stimulus.
In Pavlov experiment, this was the response of salivation to the bell.

Question 13

[PEEL AO3]
What is one strength of the behavioural approach to explaining phobias as a peel structure?

Answer 13

P: one strength of the behavioural approach to explaining phobias is that there is supportive empirical case study evidence.
E: Watson and Rayner (1920) use classical conditioning to create a phobia in the baby. The researcher initiated the phobia of a white rat when he learned to associate the rat (NS) paired with a loud noise (UCS). The phobia was then generalised to other white fairy items, including Santa’s beard.
E: this supports the classical conditioning explanation as little Albert had no phobias before the experiment and it was only by exposing him to a loud noise paired with the white rat. Did little Albert develop these fears.
L: this evidence increases the validity of the theory that phobias are learnt and not innate as proposed by the evolutionary explanation as the theory predicted the research findings.

Question 14

[PEEL AO3]
What is the first strength of the two process model using a peel structure?

Answer 14

P: a strength of the two process model is evidence for a link between bad experiences and phobias.
E: De Jongh (2006) found that 73% of dental phobics had experienced a trauma mostly involving dentistry.
E: further support came from the control group of people with low dental anxiety but only 21% had experienced a traumatic event.
L: this supports the proposal that the association between stimulus and an unconditional response can lead to a phobia.

Question 15

[PEEL AO3]
What is the second strength of the two process model using a peel structure?

Answer 15

P: a strength of the two process model is its real world application in exposure therapies.
E: once avoidance behaviour is prevented it ceases to be reinforced by the reduction of anxiety.
E: avoidance behaviour therefore declines. In behavioural terms the phobia is the avoidance so when this avoidance is prevented the phobia is cured.

Question 16

[PEEL AO3]
What is the first limitation of the behavioural approach to explaining phobias in a peel structure?

Answer 16

P: limitation of the behavioural approach to explain phobias is that it does not offer a complete explanation of phobias.
E: Bounton (2007) highlight that evolutionary factors could play a role in phobias, especially if the effect of a particular stimulus could have caused pain or even death to our ancestors. Consequently, evolutionary psychologists suggest that some phobias are not learned but are in fact in Nate, as such phobias acted as a survival mechanism for our ancestors.
E: this innate predisposition to certain phobias is called biological preparedness (seligman 1971) and casts out on the two process model since it suggests that there is more to phobias than learning.
L: whilst is the behavioural explanation of phobias may explain the development of some phobias it does not explain ones that appear to be in and have not been learned to experience.

Question 17

[PEEL AO3]
What is the second limitation of the behavioural explanation of phobias in a peel structure?

Answer 17

P: a limitation of the behavioural explanation for the development of phobias is that it ignores the role of cognition.
E: cognitive argue that phobias develop as a result of irrational thinking, not just learning. For example sufferer of claustrophobia may think I am going to be trapped in this lift and suffocate. Which is an irrational thought that is not taken into consideration in the behaviour explanation.
E: cognitive behavioural therapy which is a treatment for phobias is suggested to be a more successful treatment than the behaviour treatments which could indicate that the cognitive component of developing phobias is more important than the stimulus response link.
L: this challenges the validity of the behavioural explanation and the cognitive explanation of phobia may be a more appropriate one.