Psychopathology: Behaviourist approach to explaining phobias AO1

Question 1

Who proposed the two-process model?

Answer 1

Hobart Mowrer

Question 2

What did Hobart Mowrer state about phobias?

Answer 2

Hobart Mowrer stated that phobias are acquired by classical conditioning then continue because of operant conditioning.

Question 3

Who conducted a study about creating a phobia in a 9 month old baby?

Answer 3

Watson & Rayner

Question 4

ACQUISITION BY CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
What did Watson & Rayner do?

Answer 4

created a phobia in a 9 month old baby called ‘Little albert’

Question 5

ACQUISITION BY CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
Procedure of Watson & Rayner study

Answer 5

• Albert showed no unusual anxiety at the start of the study
• But when shown a white rat, the experimenters created a situation that will give a phobia to little Albert
• Whenever rat was present, the experimenters made a loud banging noise of an iron bar close to Albert’s ear that causes Albert to be scared

Question 6

ACQUISITION BY CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
Findings of Watson & Rayner

Answer 6

• Albert becomes scared whenever he saw a rat
• The conditioning generalised to similar objects (e.g. furry objects such as fur coats and rabbits)

Question 7

MAINTENANCE BY OPERANT CONDITIONING
What did Hobart & Mowrer suggest about how a phobic stimulus is maintained?

Answer 7

Hobart & Mowrer:
- Whenever we avoid a phobic stimulus, we successfully escape the fear and anxiety.
- The reduction of fear reinforces (or strengthens) the avoidance behaviour