The behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Question 1

the two-process model

Answer 1

The behavioural approach emphasises the role of learning in the acquisition of behaviour.

Mowrer proposed the two-process model stating that phobias are acquired by classical conditioning and continue because of operant conditioning.

Question 2

acquisition by classical conditioning

Answer 2

Involves learning to associate something of which we initially have no fear (neutral stimulus) with something that already triggers a fear response (unconditioned stimulus).

Watson and Rayner created a phobia of rats in Little Albert. Whenever, the rat was presented to Albert the researchers made a loud frightening noise. The noise is an unconditioned stimulus which creates an unconditioned response. Through association, the rat (NS) became paired with the loud noise. Albert displayed fear when he saw the rat. The rat is now a conditioned stimulus that produces a conditioned response. The conditioning then generalised to similar objects.

Question 3

maintenance by operant conditioning

Answer 3

Operant conditioning takes place when our behaviour is reinforced or punished.

Mowrer suggested that when we avoid a phobic stimulus we successfully escape the fear and anxiety that we would have experienced if we had remained there. This reduction in fear reinforces the avoidance behaviour and so the phobia is maintained.

Reinforcement increases the frequency of a behaviour. In the case of negative reinforcement, an individual avoids an unpleasant situation. Such a behaviour results in a desirable consequence, which means the behaviour will be repeated.

Question 4

Evaluation of behavioural approach to explaining phobias (brief)

Answer 4

strength - real world application
weakness - doesn’t account for cognitive aspects
weakness - simplistic

Question 5

strength of behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Answer 5

has real world application in exposure therapies. The two-process model is important in explaining why people with phobias benefit from being exposed to the phobic stimulus. Once the avoidance behaviour is prevented, it ceases to be reinforced and henceforth declines. Therefore, this shows the value of the two-process approach because it identifies a means to treating phobias

Question 6

weakness of behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Answer 6

the two-process model doesn’t account for the cognitive aspects of phobias. Behavioural explanations are geared towards explaining behaviour. In phobias the key behaviour is avoidance. However, we know phobias have a cognitive component as well. For example, people hold irrational beliefs about the phobic stimulus. The two process model explains avoidance behaviour but doesn’t offer an adequate explanation cognitive characteristics. Therefore, the two-process model doesn’t entirely explain the symptoms of phobias.

the two process model can be said to be a simplistic. It oversimplifies our understanding of complex behaviours such as the formation of phobias to a simple stimulus-response association. This model ignores other levels of explanation such as biological (the role of evolution) reasons to suggest that phobias are not learnt behaviour but could be innate. This suggests that phobias could be innate, survival mechanisms from our ancestors. This explanation could also explain why we have phobias of things we have never experienced being face to face with, for example sharks. Therefore the two-process model lacks depth, limiting its validity