Psypath: behavioral expl. of phobias AO1 + AO3 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the behavioural approach?

A

behaviours learned through interaction w/environment through conditioning
Is a response to environmental stimuli

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2
Q

What is classical conditioning?

A

Learning through association

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3
Q

famous research associated w/ classical conditioning?

A

Pavlov’s dogs:
- presented w/ food (unconditioned stimulus), the dogs salivated (unconditioned response), Pavlov rung a bell (neutral stimulus)
- repeated when food was presented, bell became a conditioned stimulus.
- When the bell was rung w/out food present, the dogs salivated (conditioned response)- anticipated food

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4
Q

What is operant conditioning?

A

Learning through consequences

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5
Q

famous research w/ operant conditioning?

A

Skinner box:
- Pos. reinforcement: rewarded behaviour is reinforced (repeated)- rats rewarded when they performed the right task- given a treat
- Neg. reinforcement: behaviour that avoids unpleasant stimuli repeated (e.g. shock) is reinforced- rats given electric shock if did the wrong thing
- Punishment: behaviour resulting in unpleasant outcome (shock) not repeated

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6
Q

Mowrer’s (1960) two process model?

A

Phobias acquired/initiated through classical conditioning
Maintained/continued through operant conditioning

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7
Q

How are phobias initiated?

A

Acquired through learning an association- e.g. CC can explain why someone develops fear of dogs after being bitten
- Being bitten (UCS) creates fear (UCR), when dog (NS) is associated w/ being bitten, dog (now CS) produces a fear response (now CR) on its own

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8
Q

How are phobias maintained?

A

Explained through OC.
- OC takes place when behaviour is reinforced e.g. likelihood of behaviour repeated increased if outcome is rewarding
- person avoids feared object to reduce anxiety-> rewarding- e.g. of negative reinforcement: person avoids situation to escape from an unpleasant stimulus
- behaviour results in a desirable consequence- behaviour will be repeated

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9
Q

strength behavioral appr. -> supportive empirical case study evidence

A

E- Watson + Rayner used CC to create phobias in infant (Little Albert)- initiated a phobia of white rat (associated w/loud noise-UCS-) which was generalised to other white/furry items
E-supports CC expl.- Albert had no fears pre exp., exposing him to UCS + NS developed fears
L-evidence increases theory validity that phobias not learned/innate

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10
Q

strength 2 process model -> evidence link w/ bad experiences + phobias

A

E- De Jongh (2006) found 73% of dental phobics experienced trauma (mostly involving dentistry)
E- more support from the control group of ppl w/low dental anxiety: only 21% experienced a traumatic event
L- supports proposal association w/stimulus (dentistry) and an UCR (pain) can lead to a phobia

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11
Q

strength 2 process model -> irl application in exposure therapies (e.g. SD)

A

e-when avoidance behaviour is prevented, no longer reinfoced by reduction of anxiety
e-so avoidance behaviour declines- in behavioral terms, phobia is avoidance, so when avoidance=prevented, phobia=cured

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12
Q

limitation behavioral appr.-> not complete expl. of phobias

A

E- Bouton (2007)- evolutionary factors might play role in phobias, esp. if effects of particular stimuli (e.g. snakes) could caused pain/death to ancestors.
So, evolutionary psychologists say some phobias (e.g. snakes/heights) aren’t learnt, are innate, these phobias were survival mechanisms for ancestors
E- predisposition to some phobias = biological preparedness (Seligman 1971), + casts doubt on the 2 process model: suggests more to phobias than learning
L- while behavioral expl. of phobias may explain development of some phobias, doesn’t explain innate/unlearned ones

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13
Q

limitation behavioural expl-> ignores role of cognition (thinking)

A

E- cognitivists say phobias develop as result of irrational thinking, not just learning e.g. claustrophobics may think they’ll be trapped + suffocate in a lift- irrational thought considered in behaviourist explanation.
E- cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)- treatment for phobias- said to be more successful treatment than behaviorist treatments- could indicate the cognitive component of developing phobias = more important than S-R link.
L- challenges validity of the behavioral explanation + suggests the cognitive explanation of phobias may be more appropriate

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14
Q

behaviorism

A

Behaviours are learned through environmental interaction + conditioning to stimuli

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15
Q

CC

A

learning via association

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16
Q

OC

A

learning via conseqs

17
Q

UCS

A

Automatically elicits an unconditional response

18
Q

UCR

A

Automatic response to an unconditional stimulus

19
Q

NS

A

A stimulus that elicits no response at first

20
Q

CS

A

Brings on a particular response after paired with an UCS

21
Q

CR

A

Response CS elicits as it has been paired with UCS

22
Q

pos reinforcement

A

rewarded behaviour is repeated/reinforces

23
Q

neg reinforcement

A

behaviour that avoids an unpleasant stimulus is repeated/reinforced

24
Q

Mowrer (1960)

A

Phobias are acquired through CC, maintained through OC

25
Q

punishment

A

behaviour w/unpleasant outcome not repeated

26
Q

2-process model

A

phobias learned through CC, maintained through OC

27
Q

Watson & Rayner (1920)

A

little Albert was conditioned to associate a white rat w/a feared response. Phobia was generalised to other furry white objects- anxiety when shown a fur coat/cotton wool/Watson w/a Santa Claus beard.

28
Q

De Jongh (2006)

A

Experimented on dental phobics, 73% had experienced a trauma in the past (mostly involving dentistry), only 21% had in control condition (low dental anxiety).

29
Q

Bounton (2007)

A

Suggested evolutionary factors could affect phobias, esp. is effects of a certain stimulus could have caused pain/death to ancestors.

30
Q

Seligman (1971)

A

Biological preparedness- predisposition to phobias, there may be more to phobias than learning.