The behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Question 1

What is the behavioural approach?

Answer 1

A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning

Question 2

What is the two-process model?

Answer 2

An explanation for the onset and persistence of disorders that create anxiety
Consists of:
- Classical conditioning
- Operant conditioning

Question 3

Who propsed the two-process model and what does it mean in terms of phobias?

Answer 3

Mowrer
- This states that phobias are acquired by classical conditioning and then continue because of operant conditioning

Question 4

What did Watson and Rainer do?

Answer 4

• Created a phobia in ‘Little Albert’ (9 month old)
• Albert started the study with no phobia of rats (NS)
• Whenever the rat was presented, the researchers made a loud noise with an iron bar
• The noise is the UCS, which creates a UCR of fear
• When a rat (NS) and the UCS are encountered close together in time, the NS becomes associated with the UCS and both now produce the fear response
• The rat is now a CS that produces a CR

Question 5

How are phobias accquired through classical conditioning?

Answer 5

• Classical conditioning involves learning to associate something of which we initially have no fear (neutral stimulus) with something that already triggers a fear response (unconditioned stimulus)

Question 6

How are phobias maintained through operant conditioning?

Answer 6

• Operant conditioning takes place when our behaviour is reinforced or punished
• Mowrer suggested that whenever we avoid a phobic stimulus we successfully escape the fear and anxiety we would have experienced
• This reduction in fear reinforces the avoidance behaviour so the phobia is maintained

Question 7

STRENGTH-
I= Real-world application

Answer 7

D= In exposure therapies. The idea that phobias are minatined by avoidance of the phobic stimulus is important in explaining why people with phobias benefit frombeing exposed to the stimulus. Once the avoidance behaviour is presented, it ceases to be reinforced, so avoidance declines
E= Provides value to the two-process theory as it identifies a means of treating phobias

Question 8

LIMITATION-
I= It does not account for cognitive aspects of phobias

Answer 8

D= Behavioural explanation is geared towards explaining behaviour. We know that phobias are more than avoidance responses, so must contain cognitive aspects. Does not provide an adequate explanation for phobic cognitions
E= This means the two-process model does not completely explain the symptoms of phobias

Question 9

STRENGTH-
I= Evidence for a link between traumatic experiences and phobias

Answer 9

D= Little Albert study shows how a frightening experience involving a stimulus can lead to a phobia of that stimulus. De Jongh et al= 73% of people with a fear of dental treatment had traumatic experiences vs a control group of 21% with low dental anxiety who faced a traumatic event
E= Confirms association between stimulus and UCR does lead to developments of phobias

Question 10

LIMITATION-
I= Not all phobias appear following a traumatic experience

Answer 10

D= E.g: fear of snakes is common in countries where few people have encountered snakes, let alone had a traumatic experience
E= Means association between phobias and frightening experiences is not as strong as expected if the behavioural approach provided a complete explanation