The behavioural approach to explaining phobias Flashcards
Who proposed the two-process model?
Mowrer
What is the first stage of the two process model?
Classical conditioning
What is the second stage of the two process model?
Operant conditioning
How does the two-process model suggest phobias are acquired?
Through association
Who conducted the Little Albert case study?
Watson and Rayner
What was the aim of the Little Albert case study?
To demonstrate that emotional responses could be learned through classical conditioning
What was the neutral stimulus in the Little Albert case study?
White rat
What was the unconditioned stimulus in the Little Albert case study?
The loud noise
What was the unconditioned response in the Little Albert case study?
Fear/crying
What was the conditioned stimulus in the Little Albert case study?
White rat
What was the conditioned response in the Little Albert case study?
Fear/crying
What did Little Albert’s phobia generalise to?
Other white, fluffy objects
How does the two-process model suggest phobias are maintained?
Through reinforcement
How is avoidance involved with the two-process model?
The avoidance or escape from the phobic stimulus reduces fear, which is reinforcing
What type of reinforcement is avoidance?
Negative reinforcement
What is the social learning explanation of phobias?
They may be acquired through modelling the behaviour of others
What are the 4 AO3 points for the behavioural approach to explaining phobias?
1) Little Albert case study support
2) Biological preparedness
3) Ignores cognitive factors
4) Research support
Why is the Little Albert case study unethical?
They failed to protect him from psychological harm
What can explain the fact that phobias don’t always develop after traumatic experiences?
Biological preparedness
Who proposed biological preparedness?
Seligman
What is Seligman’s theory of biological preparedness?
All animals, including humans, are biologically pre-programmed to rapidly form an association between life-threatening stimuli and fear
What are ancient fears?
Things that may have been lethal in our evolutionary past
Give 2 examples of ancient fears.
Snakes and heights
What does the cognitive explanation of phobias suggest?
That they are developed as a consequence of irrational thinking
Who conducted a study that supports Mowrer’s two process model?
Bandura + Rosenthal
What did Bandura + Rosenthal’s participants observe?
A model who acted in pain every time a buzzer was sounded
What were Bandurra + Rosenthal’s findings?
Participants showed an emotional response to the buzzer, demonstrating an acquired ‘fear response’
