The behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Question 1

How many processes are there ?

Answer 1

2 - classical conditioning and operant conditioning

Question 2

What is process 1?

Answer 2

Acquisition of the phobia

Question 3

What is the behavioural approach explanation for phobias?

Answer 3

Suggests that phobias occurs when a neutral stimulus is associated with unconditioned stimulus that causes fear

Question 3

What is process 2?

Answer 3

maintenance of the phobia through operant conditioning?

Question 4

Show the before during and after conditioning?

Answer 4

before: UCS: UCR (fear)
during UCS + NS = UCR (fear)
CS = CR

Question 5

Explain Mowrer (1960) classical conditioning?

Answer 5

Little Albert was conditioned to fear the white rat. The white rat (NS) was near him and Albert could hear very loud noises (UCS)as the experimenter banged bars. The two NS + UCS had a UCR of fear.
and now the NS was turned into CS and gave a CR of fear.

Question 6

What is the meaning of generalisation?

Answer 6

fear response to all similar objects
Start to feel fear of those objects who are similar to the one you fear.

Question 7

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 7

negative reinforcement- repeating a behaviour because it leads to a reduction in anxiety

Question 8

Explain the process 2 : ?

Answer 8

Avoidance of situation -> Unpleasant situation doesn’t occur so anxiety is reduced - > repetition of avoidance behaviour due to reward anxiety reduction phobia maintained

Question 9

AO3 : There is evidence to support the study

Answer 9

Little Albert being conditioned to fear a white rat.
Shows that phobias could be acquired through classical conditioning therefore strengthening the idea of the two process behavioural explanations of phobia

Question 10

AO3 : It can’t account for individual differences

Answer 10

Two people who experience the same situation but only one of them may develop the phobia . This suggests that there are other factors involved such as genetic differences in anxiety and past experiences
Decreases the validity of the behavioural approach explanation.

Question 11

AO3 : not generalisable to others Due to Laboratory Study

Answer 11

Laboratory study and the variables are all controlled which isn’t an accurate representation of real life so reduces ecological validity