The behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Question 1

Who proposed the two-process model?

Answer 1

Mowrer

Question 2

What is the first stage of the two process model?

Answer 2

Classical conditioning

Question 3

What is the second stage of the two process model?

Answer 3

Operant conditioning

Question 4

How does the two-process model suggest phobias are acquired?

Answer 4

Through association

Question 5

Who conducted the Little Albert case study?

Answer 5

Watson and Rayner

Question 6

What was the aim of the Little Albert case study?

Answer 6

To demonstrate that emotional responses could be learned through classical conditioning

Question 7

What was the neutral stimulus in the Little Albert case study?

Answer 7

White rat

Question 8

What was the unconditioned stimulus in the Little Albert case study?

Answer 8

The loud noise

Question 9

What was the unconditioned response in the Little Albert case study?

Answer 9

Fear/crying

Question 10

What was the conditioned stimulus in the Little Albert case study?

Answer 10

White rat

Question 11

What was the conditioned response in the Little Albert case study?

Answer 11

Fear/crying

Question 12

What did Little Albert’s phobia generalise to?

Answer 12

Other white, fluffy objects

Question 13

How does the two-process model suggest phobias are maintained?

Answer 13

Through reinforcement

Question 14

How is avoidance involved with the two-process model?

Answer 14

The avoidance or escape from the phobic stimulus reduces fear, which is reinforcing

Question 15

What type of reinforcement is avoidance?

Answer 15

Negative reinforcement

Question 16

What is the social learning explanation of phobias?

Answer 16

They may be acquired through modelling the behaviour of others

Question 17

What are the 4 AO3 points for the behavioural approach to explaining phobias?

Answer 17

1) Little Albert case study support
2) Biological preparedness
3) Ignores cognitive factors
4) Research support

Question 18

Why is the Little Albert case study unethical?

Answer 18

They failed to protect him from psychological harm

Question 19

What can explain the fact that phobias don’t always develop after traumatic experiences?

Answer 19

Biological preparedness

Question 20

Who proposed biological preparedness?

Answer 20

Seligman

Question 21

What is Seligman’s theory of biological preparedness?

Answer 21

All animals, including humans, are biologically pre-programmed to rapidly form an association between life-threatening stimuli and fear

Question 22

What are ancient fears?

Answer 22

Things that may have been lethal in our evolutionary past

Question 23

Give 2 examples of ancient fears.

Answer 23

Snakes and heights

Question 24

What does the cognitive explanation of phobias suggest?

Answer 24

That they are developed as a consequence of irrational thinking

Question 25

Who conducted a study that supports Mowrer’s two process model?

Answer 25

Bandura + Rosenthal

Question 26

What did Bandura + Rosenthal’s participants observe?

Answer 26

A model who acted in pain every time a buzzer was sounded

Question 27

What were Bandurra + Rosenthal’s findings?

Answer 27

Participants showed an emotional response to the buzzer, demonstrating an acquired ‘fear response’