Behavioural explanations of phobias

• The Two-Process Model developed by Mowrer (1947) is used to explain how phobias are learned, and combines classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
• The Two-Process Model- first stage: acquisition- classical conditioning & second stage: maintenance- operant conditioning.
• Both processes/ stages of the Two-Process Model are needed to explain why phobias begin in the first place (classical) and then also continue (operant).
• Initiation/ Acquisition:

  • Unconditioned Stimulus (loud noise)= Unconditioned Response (fear)
  • US + Neutral Stimulus (loud noise + rat)= UCR (fear)
  • Conditioned Stimulus (rat)= Conditioned Response (fear)
• A phobia is acquired/ learnt through association- demonstrated by the study of Little Albert (phobia of rats).
• • Little Albert was never deconditioned- left with phobia for rest of life- potential for psychological harm- ethical issues.
  • Little Albert's phobia was generalised to other furry white objects, for example a fur coat and a Santa Claus beard.
• Maintenance:

  • The likelihood of a behaviour being repeated is increased if the outcome is rewarding- operant conditioning.
  • In the case of a phobia, the avoidance of (or escape from) the phobic object reduces fear and is thus reinforcing (an example of negative reinforcement).
• Evaluation- Strength:

  • Holds good explanatory power.
  • The Two-Process Model was a definite step forward when it was proposed in 1960 as it was beyond Watson & Rayner's concept of classical conditioning explaining phobias alone.
  • It explained how phobias are maintained over time, and this has important implications for therapies because it explains why patients need to be exposed to the feared stimulus.
• Evaluation- Strength:

  • Successful therapies have been developed as a consequence of this theory.
  • Such as systematic desensitisation & flooding, both of which have high success rates.
  • It suggests the theory is correct in explaining the behaviour in the first place.
• Evaluation- Weakness:

  • It is an incomplete explanation.
  • Bounton (2007) pointed out that evolutionary factors probably have an important role in phobias but the Two-Process Model ignores this, eg we easily acquire phobias of things that have been a source of danger in evolutionary past, for example a fear of snakes, heights, the dark etc- Seligman called this biological preparedness.
  • This phenomenon of preparedness is a serious problem for the Two-process theory, as it shows that there is more to acquiring phobias than simple conditioning.
• Evaluation- Weakness:

  • Ignores cognitive aspects- the Behaviourist Approach orientated towards explaining behaviour rather than cognition.
  • Not all phobias develop from a trauma, sometimes people develop a phobia and are not aware of having had a related bad experience.
  • Cognitive explanations such as irrational thoughts, or stress diathesis models, such as having a genetic predispositon to acquire phobias, could explain these phobias better- such as social phobia or agoraphobia.