The Behavioural Explanations of Phobias

Question 1

name the key assumptions of behaviourism

Answer 1

1. we are born with a blank slate

Question 2

Who is Mower?

Answer 2

stated a 2 process model of explaining phobias

Question 3

explain the 2 process model of explaining phobias

Answer 3

acquisition of phobia - classical conditioning

maintenance of phobia - operant conditioning

Question 4

who conducted the Little Albert experiment?

Answer 4

Watson + Raynor

Question 5

explain the procedure of Little Albert

Answer 5

1. Albert shown fire, monkey, rabbit, rat (no fear)
2. when albert reached for rat, iron bar stuck - noise startled him

2nd time = cried

3. this generalised to fluffy things

Question 6

name the classical conditioning stages of Little Albert

Answer 6

Before conditioning:
white rat (NS) -> tried to play with it
banging on iron bar (UCS) -> fear (UCR)

During conditioning:
rat (NS) + iron bar (UCS) -> fear (UCR)

After conditioning:
rat (CS) -> fear (CR)
conditioning generalised to furry objects -> fear

Question 7

how are phobias maintained?

Answer 7

phobias are reinforced through operant conditioning

Question 8

describe how negative reinforcement can maintain a phobia

Answer 8

• an individual avoids a situation which is unpleasant
• results in desirable consequence
• increasing the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated