The Behavioural Appriach To Explaining Phobias Flashcards

1
Q

What did Mowrer suggest

A

That phobias are acquired through classical conditioning and then maintained through operant conditioning

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2
Q

How did Watson and Rayner demonstrate how little Albert associated the fear caused by a loud bang with a white rat

A
  • he was exposed to a white rat ( NS) Producing no response
  • when payed with the loud bang (UCS) this produces the UCR of fear
  • through several repetitions , Albert made the association between the rat CS and Fear CR
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3
Q

How does operant conditioning explain phobias ?

A
  • OC takes place when a behaviour is rewarded or punished
  • phobics practice avoidance behaviours , meaning that they avoid the phobic stimulus
  • by avoiding the phobic stimulus, they avoid the associated fear
  • by avoiding such an unpleasant consequence, the avoidance behaviour is negatively reinforced and likely to be repeated again , hence maintaining the phobia
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4
Q

Explain the alternative explanation for the acquisition of phobias

A
  • Seligman suggested that we are more likely to develop phobias towards prepared stimuli
  • these are stimuli that would have posed a threat to our evolutionary ancestors such as fire or deep water
  • abs so running away from such a stimulus increases the likelihood of survival and so this behaviour has a selective evolutionary advantage
  • this explanation can explain why some phobias are much more frequent than others
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