The behavioural approach to explaining phobias Flashcards
Mowrer proposed the two-process model based on the behavioural approach to phobias. This states that phobias are acquired by………and then continue because of…..?
classical conditioning
operant conditioning
define classical conditioning in terms of phobias
involves learning to associate something of which we initially have no fear (NS) with something that already triggers a fear response (UCS). The NS eventually produces the same response that was first produced by the UCS alone
Watson and Rayner created a phobia in a 9-month-old baby called ‘Little Albert’ explain the study
Albert showed no anxiety at the start of the study and was given a white rat which he tried to play with. However, the experimenters then set out to give Albert a phobia.Whenever the rat was presented they made a loud, frightening noise by banging an iron bar close to Albert’s ears. NOISE=UCS which creates UCR of FEAR. When the rat (NS) and the UCS are encountered close together in time the NS becomes associated with UCS and both now produce the fear response- Albert became frightened when he saw the rat. Rat is now a CS that produced a CR. This conditioning then generalised to similar objects such such as a fur coat which Albert dispalyed distress at the sight at.
Phobias are often long lasting. Mowrer has explained this as the result of operant conditioning, define what is operant conditioning in terms of phobia
a form of learning in which our behaviour is either reinforced or punished
Reinforcement tends to increase the frequency of a behaviour. Mowrer suggested that whenever we avoid a phobic stimulus we escape the fear and anxiety that we would have experienced if we stayed there. This reduction in fear reinforces the avoidance behaviour and so the phobia is maintained
AO3-good explanatory power
the two-step model was a definite step forward when it was proposed and went beyond Watson’s and Rayner’s concept of CC. It explained how phobias can be maintained over time and this had important implications for therapies because it explains why patients need to be exposed to the feared stimulus. Once a patient is prevented from practising their avoidance behaviour the behaviour ceases to be reinforced so declines.
AO3-phobias that don’t follow trauma
Sometimes phobias appear following a bad experience and it is easy to see how they could be the result of conditioning. However, sometimes people develop a phobia and are not aware of having had a related bad experience. For example, someone might have a fear of snakes even if they never met one or been frightened by one before.
AO3- alt expln for avoidance behaviour
Not all avoidance behaviour associated with phobias seem to be the result of anxiety reduction at least i more complex phobias such as agoraphobia. There is evidence to suggest that at least some avoidance behaviour appears to be motivated by positive feelings of safety. This explains why some patients with agoraphobia (fear of leaving your house) are able to leave their house with a trusted person with relatively little anxiety but not alone.
