Psychopathology: The Behavioural Aproach To Explanaing Phobias

Question 1

What is the two process model to explaining phobias

Answer 1

• Mowrer’s idea that phobias are: (a) learned and (b) maintained

Question 2

According to the two process model how are phobias acquired through classical conditioning

Answer 2

• neutral stimulus associated with fear, and then becomes a phobic object
• Watson and rayner - created phobia in little Albert (9 month old baby)
• when shown a white rate he tried to play with it, when rat was present, a loud noise was made (iron bar being banged). The noise is an unconditioned stimulus which creates an unconditioned response (fear)
• the rat became a conditioned stimulus which produced a conditioned response

Question 3

According to the two process model how are phobias maintained through operant conditioning

Answer 3

• operant conditioning takes place when our behaviour is reinforced or punished
• reinforcement typically increases the frequency of a behaviour
• mowrer suggests that when we avoid a phobic stimulus we successfully escape the fear and anxiety, which reinforces the avoidance behaviour and maintains the phobia

Question 4

Outline the three evaluation points for the behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Answer 4

• good explanatory power
• there are alternative explanations for avoidance behaviour
• it is an incomplete explanation of phobias

Question 5

Outline ‘good explanatory power’ as an evaluation point for the behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Answer 5

• the two process model explains how phobias can be acquired and maintained over time which has had important implications for therapies because it explains why patients need to be exposed to their fear stimulus
• if an individual is prevented from practicing their avoidance behaviour, their phobias goes extinct

Question 6

Outline ‘there are alternative explanations for avoidance behaviour’ as an evaluation point for the behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Answer 6

• not all avoidance behaviour associated with phobias seems to be the result of anxiety reduction
• there is evidence to suggest some avoidance behaviour is motivated by positive feelings of safety
• this would explain why patients with agoraphobia are able to leave the house with a trusted person but not alone (Buck)

Question 7

Outline ‘it is an incomplete explanation of phobias ’ as an evaluation point for the behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Answer 7

• even if classical and operant conditioning are involved in development/maintenance of phobias there are some aspects that require further explanation
• Bounton - evolutionary factors probably have an important role in phobias which the 2 process model does not include
• it is adaptive to acquire fears of snakes/ the dark etc. seligman called this ‘biological preparedness’
• shows there is more to acquiring phobias than simple classical conditioning