The Behavioural Approach to Explaining Phobias

Question 1

Name the model used to explain acquisition and maintenance of phobias.

Answer 1

2 Process Model

Question 2

Which part of the behaviourist approach is seen in the acquisition of phobias?

Answer 2

Classical conditioning

Question 3

What is classical conditioning in terms of phobias?

Answer 3

We learn to associate something we previously have no fear (NS) of with something that already triggers a fear response. (UCS)

Question 4

Explain how little Albert came to fear white fluffy objects.
Give the UCS, UCR, NS, CS, CR

Answer 4

Little Albert was classically conditioned to have a phobia of white fluffy objects that he previously wasn’t afraid of. The phobia was acquired by learning to associate a loud noise, something Little Albert was afraid of, with a white rat.
UCS – Loud Noise
UCR – Fear
NS – White rat
CS – White Rat
CR – Fear

Question 5

Which aspect of the behaviourist approach is used to maintain phobias?

Answer 5

Operant conditioning

Question 6

How does negative reinforcement lead to maintenance of phobias?

Answer 6

We avoid the phobic stimulus so we do not feel anxiety.

Question 7

How does positive reinforcement lead to maintenance of phobias?

Answer 7

We are provided with comfort from someone when presented with something we are scared of.

Question 8

Explain the strength of the 2 process model having real world application.
Use the example of treating phobias such as systematic desensitisation.
Phobias are maintained by which behaviour and which type of reinforcement is this?
Explain how this leads to reduction of fear overall?

Answer 8

For example, we have learnt how to treat phobias through exposure therapies such as systematic desensitisation. The distinctive element of the two-process model is that phobias are maintained by avoidance. This is important when explaining why people with phobias benefit from exposure. Once avoidance is prevented, it ceases to be reinforced by the experience of anxiety reduction and avoidance therefore declines. In behavioural terms, the phobia is the avoidance behaviour so when this avoidance is prevented, the phobia is cured.

Question 9

Explain the strength of there being a link between phobias and bad experience.
Use the example of the Little Albert study.

Answer 9

For example, this is demonstrated through the little Albert study. Albert originally was not scared of rats, but was scared of loud noises. This means that when he saw the rat, he had a bad experience because he was also hearing the loud noise. He then learnt to associate the experience with seeing the rat. This means that seeing the rat alone was enough to evoke fear. This demonstrates the link between bad experience and phobias successfully.

Question 10

Explain the limitation of the 2 process model not accounting for cognitive aspects of phobias.
Explain what the key behaviour is in maintaining phobias.
Use the example of irrational beliefs and how cognitive aspects are ignored.

Answer 10

Behavioural explanations , including the two-process model are geared towards explaining behaviour. In the case of phobias, the key behaviour is avoiding the phobic stimulus. However, we know that phobias are not just avoidance responses – they hold significant cognitive components. For example, people hold irrational beliefs about the phobic stimulus. The two-process model explains avoidance behaviour but doesn’t offer an adequate explanation for phobic cognitions. This means that the two-process model doesn’t completely explain symptoms of phobias.

Question 11

Explain the limitation of the approach ignoring biological and SLT factors when explaining phobias.
Explain what preparedness is and how this links to evolution.
What animals are we biologically hardwired to fear and why?
Explain how vicarious learning/reinforcement can lead to acquisition of phobias.

Answer 11

For example, another explanation of acquisition of phobias is preparedness. This is the evolutionary theory that we are biologically hardwired to fear some animals, such as spiders, as we know that these can harm us. A second example is social learning. We see others receive positive reinforcement for their phobias, such as comfort. This can result in us developing the phobia in hopes of comfort, demonstrating vicarious learning. This suggests that the behavioural approach is insufficient when explaining phobias.