The Behavioural approach to explaining phobias Flashcards
Explain Hobart Mowrer’s Two-process approach?
It’s based on the behavioural approach to phobias and states that phobias are learnt via classical conditioning and then continue via operant.
Acquisition by Classical Conditioning:
Refers to associating something with no fear (NS) with something that triggers fear (UCS). Can be seen in the Little Albert study where Watson and Rayner created a fear by pairing a white rat (NS) with a loud noise form an iron bar (UCS) to produce a response of fear from the White rat (CS). Seen to be true as Albert showed distress with similar white objects.
Maintenance by Operant conditioning:
Reinforcement (rewarding), both positive and negative, prolongs a behaviour, in this case a phobia. Especially negative reinforcement, as it avoids contact with the phobia and therefore avoids feelings of stress and anxiety, but prolongs the duration of the phobia overtime.
Evaluate the behavioural approach to explaining phobias
Good explanatory power- two-process model explains why phobias are maintained and so helps in therapies to stop avoidance and help phobia decline.
Alternative Explanation For Avoidance Behaviour- Two process model suggests avoidance is to reduce anxiety, but it can instead be to stick with familiarity and saftey ie) when agoraphobics stay home, but when with a friend can leave house, but not alone. (Buck)
Incomplete explanation of Phobias- there is more to acquiring a phobia ie) two process model leaves out evolutionary factors like biological preparedness. (Seligman)
Phobias that don’t follow trauma- people can have phobias via bad experiences ie) trauma bc of classical conditioning, but also don’t need to experience anything bad to have a phobia ie) phobia of snakes.
Cognitive aspects of phobias- we know phobias also have a cognitive element, but the behavioural approach only focuses on explaining the behavioural element, in this case, maintaining phobias via avoidance.
