Psychopathology- Explaining&Treating Phobias (Behavioral Approach)

Question 1

Define behaviourist

Answer 1

Behaviour (including phobic behavior) is learnt from interacting w/ the environment, so from experience

Question 2

Who constructed the the two-process model

Answer 2

Mowrer 1947

Question 3

What is the two-process model

Answer 3

=phobias are acquired through classical conditioning -learn through association- phobias are maintained through operant conditioning -learning through consequence/reinforcement-

Question 4

Acquisition of phobia: classical conditioning

Answer 4

phobic object-bee —-> no response
(neutral stimulus)——> neutral response

PAIN of being stung—->fear
UNconditioned stimulus–>UNconditioned response

Question 5

Why does the unconditioned stimulus (phobic object) create an unconditioned response (fear)?

Answer 5

Automatic, do not need to be learnt.

Question 6

How is association formed?

Answer 6

When the NS is paired w/ the UCS
THE PHOBIC OBJECT(bee) becomes a CS now producedung an CR=fear

Question 7

What does the two-process model by Mower also reveal…

Answer 7

That phobias can be GENERALISED
So a CR (fear) is also experienced in the presence of a stimuli that is similar to the CS.

Question 8

How can phobias be maintained?

Answer 8

Operant conditioning

Question 9

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 9

A form of learning that occurs through learning consequence of our actions.

Question 10

Explain how operant conditioning maintains phobias?

Answer 10

-A personw/ a phobia is aware of their phobia and will try to avoid the phobic object and the situation that puts them in contact w/ it
|
|-> this AVOIDANCE BEHAVIOUR leads to a reduction in anxiety - which is a pleasant sensation
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|—-> this REINFORCEMENT strengthens the phobia- making the person more likely to avoid the phobic object in the future.

Question 11

All psychologists that can be used for:

2-process model= EVALUATION OF BEHAVIOURAL APPROACH TO EXPLAINING&TREATING PHOBIAS

Answer 11

Watson& Rayner 1920
(counter-research= DiNardo)

Question 12

2-process model= EVALUATION OF BEHAVIOURAL APPROACH TO EXPLAINING&TREATING PHOBIAS

Answer 12

-watson and rayner 1920
=when intro to rat 1st time lil albert showed no signs of PHOBIC RESPONSE
-when WATSON paired rat w/ loud bang behind alberts head= phobic response formed-

SO RAT FORMED A PHOBIC RESPONSE OF FEAR

Question 13

What does the little albert study demonstrate and show?

Answer 13

demonstrated phobias can be acquired through association

little albert showed generalisation -fearing similar things

Question 14

Who conducted the counter research for watson and rayner 1920?

Answer 14

DiNardo

Question 15

COUNTER RESEARCH - WHAT WERE DiNardo’s findings?

Answer 15

whilst conditoning events- (for example lil albert) - like dog bites were common in participants w dog phobias, 56% of people -just as common with no dog phobia 66%

-FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT THE BEHAVIOURIST APPROACH DOES NOT FULLY EXPLAIN ALL PHOBIAS.

Question 16

evaluation point ❌

BEHAVIOURAL APPROACH 🚗🔪

Answer 16

humans also do not display phboic responses to objects that cuase the most pain day-today life such as knives and cars.

YET arachnophobia is more coomon so better explained by the EVOLUTIONARY THEORY as these are dangers that many of our evolutionary ancestors may have faced- hereditory fears for survival

Question 17

Real world application evaluation point
BEHAVIOURAL APPROACH 💦💦🌊

Answer 17

behaviourist theories of phobia acquisition and maintenance have been practically applied to counter-condition therapies such as SD and flooding.

These treatments are effective this SUGGEST that the behaviourist principles they are based on are valid.

Question 18

What does the behaviourist theory assume and how do they attempt to treat phobias?

Answer 18

behaviorist theories assume phobias are learnt associations and attempt to replace the association w/ relaxation.

Question 19

Reciprocal inhibition?

Answer 19

fear and relaxation are two antagonistic emotions as you cannot feel 2 opposite emotions simultaneously.

Question 20

What are the 2 types of treatment for phobias according to the behavioural approach?

Answer 20

Systematic desensitisation
Flooding

Question 21

Systematic desensitisation
4 KEY STEPS

Answer 21

T= THERAPIST. C=CLIENT
1- T teaches C relaxation techniques e.g breathing exercises
2- C creates anxiety hierarchy
3- C is exposed to least and moves onto next until C is fully relaxed at the current stage
3- When C can hold phobic object w/o fear- association extinct and new association is formed with relaxation

Question 22

FLOODING

Answer 22

-Counter conditions phobias by immediate and FULL exposure to the max level of phobic stimulus
-immediate exposure tends to cause panic fear (Screaming shouting etc)
-T JOB TO ENSURE CLIENT DOES NOT LEAVE ROOM OTHERWISE C PHOBIA BECOMES REINFORCED IS C SUCCESSFULLY ESCAPES THE STIMULUS.

as fear response takes energy eventually the client will become exhausted and calms down in presence of phobic object