The Behavioural Approach to Explaining Phobias Flashcards
What is meant by the behavioural approach to explaining phobias?
Explains phobias in terms of learning and what is observable - it focuses on behaviour.
Outline classical conditioning in the two-process model.
Proposed by Mowrer.
classical conditioning:
-phobias are acquired through association.
-phobic objects are at first a neutral stimulus - they do not produce a response.
-a phobia will only occur when the neutral stimulus is presented with an unconditioned stimulus which produces an unconditioned response - the neutral stimulus and unconditioned stimulus become associated and so fear is produced whenever the neutral stimulus appears.
-therefore, the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned response becomes a conditioned response.
-conditioning is then generalised.
Outline the case study of Little Albert.
Watson and Rayner demonstrated how a child associated a loud bang with a white rat
first exposed to a neutral stimulus, a white rat in which he produced no response.
neutral stimulus then paired with a unconditioned stimulus, a loud bang, which produced an unconditioned response, fear.
several repetitions - Albert eventually made an association between the unconditioned stimulus, the loud bang, and the neutral stimulus, the white rat.
-Albert went on to display fear upon seeing the rat despite the absence of the loud noise, the rat therefore became a conditioned stimulus which creates a conditioned response.
-Albert displayed fear whenever he was presented with other furry objects.
Outline operant conditioning in the two-process model.
Proposed by Mowrer.
operant conditioning:
-takes place when our behaviour is reinforced or punished.
-reinforcement increases the frequency of behaviour for example, negative reinforcement allows an individual to avoid an unpleasant situation and rewards them by not experiencing anxiety or fear.
the avoidance behaviour is reinforced and is likely to be repeated again hence maintaining the phobia.
What are two strengths of the behavioural approach to explaining phobias?
- Real world application.
The two process model - important in explaining why people with phobias benefit from being exposed to their phobic stimulus.
By being exposed to the phobic stimulus, avoidance behaviour is prevented meaning that it is unlikely to be reinforced as there is no reward.
model puts forward the idea that the phobia itself is simply avoidance behaviour as this is what is maintaining it - once this avoidance is prevented, the phobia is cured. This model has allowed for the emergence of successful behavioural therapies such as systematic desensitisation and flooding.
- evidence for a link between bad experiences and phobias.
Little Albert shows how a frightening experience involving a stimulus can lead to a phobia of that stimulus.
-researchers found that 73 percent of people with a fear of dental treatment had a negative experience involving dentistry.
What is one limitation of the behavioural approach to explaining phobias?
- The two-process model ignores cognitive factors.
alternative explanation - cognitive approach: proposes the idea that phobias develop as a consequence of irrational thinking.
a person in a lift may think ‘i might become trapped in here and suffocate’- irrational thought and is likely to cause extreme anxiety and may trigger a phobia of lifts.
