Psychopathology - The behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Question 1

What is the behaviourist approach to phobias?

Answer 1

According to behaviourists, behaviour like phobias are learnt by experience- the two process model describes how phobias are acquired through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning.

Question 2

How is classical conditioning involved in the acquisition of a phobia?

Answer 2

Classical conditioning suggests that the phobic object changes from being a neutral stimulus with no fear response to a conditioned stimulus with a fear response => forming an association.

Question 3

How is operant conditioning involved in maintaining a phobia?

Answer 3

This is by the individual avoiding situations with the phobia object, which has a pleasurable effect on reducing their anxiety => repeated in the future

Question 4

How else can phobias be learnt?

Answer 4

Phobias may also be learnt vicariously from the observation of models according to SLT principles.

Question 5

What are the pros of the behaviourist approach explaining phobias?

Answer 5

REAL WORLD APP - behaviourist theories of phobia formation and maintenance level have led to effective conditioning (or counter conditioning) therapies

Watson and Rayner (1920) showed how phobias can be induced when making a loud noise when presenting a rat to a child. (Little Albert) = supporting evidence

Question 6

What are the cons of the behavioural approach to explaining phobias?

Answer 6

Menzies and Clarke (1993) - When asked, 2% of children with a fear of water could recall having a traumatic experience with water => suggests that the behaviourist explanation cannot account for all phobias as they could have an innate fear?

Common phobias for snakes, birds and dogs are understandable from an evolutionary perspective, suggesting an innate biological origin. This supports the biological approach and therefore opposes the behavioural approach to explaining phobias.