The Behavioural Approach to Explaining Phobias Flashcards
Who argued that phobias are acquired from classical conditioning and maintained by operant conditioning?
Mowrer (1960)
Who were the main psychologists on the case study of Little Albert (1920)?
Watson and Raynor
What was Little Albert scared of?
Rats
Can your initial fear be generalised?
Yes
How was Little Albert’s fear generalised?
Began to be afraid of white flurry objects including Santa Clause
What is operant conditioning?
Changing a behaviour because of a reward or for avoidance
What is a negative reinforcement?
An individual produces behaviour that avoids something unpleasant
The two-process model is what?
Phobias are acquired from classical conditioning and maintained by operant conditioning
Why is the two-process model a good explanation?
Has a practical use - if patient is prevented from their avoidance behaviour then phobic behaviour declines
What is an alternative explanation for avoidance behaviour?
-Evidence shows some behaviours of avoidance is motivated by positive feeling if safety (like leaving the house with a trusted person)
Why does the two-process model have an incomplete explanation of phobias?
Evolutionary phobias such as a fear of snakes (Biological preparedness)
What did Seligman (1971) suggest?
Biological preparedness - Innately prepared to fear some things more than other
Why can conditioning alone not explain the formation of phobias?
As not all bad experiences lead to phobias but instead create a vulnerability for it
What aspect does the two-process model not include?
Cognitive aspects of phobias
