Two-Process Model

• The two-process model has practical applications in treating people for phobias.
• Treatments such as systematic desensitisation use principles from the two-process model.
• The two-process model ignores the cognitive aspect of phobias.
• The two-process model ignores any biological factors in phobias such as preparedness.
• Watson & Rayner use the case of Little Albert to support the two-process model for phobias.
• Ad De Jongh et al (2006) confirms that associations cause phobias to develop.
• Not all phobias are created from negative experiences; people can have phobias from watching movies or tv.
• Seligman (1971) suggest evolutionary factors can create a preparedness to potential danger, causing fears.
• The social learning theory may be a better explanation for phobias.
• A phobic person can often recall the incident which caused the fear, supporting classical conditioning.
• Menzies & Clarke (1993) found that only 2% of children with a fear of water could recall a traumatic experience with water, suggesting that the behaviourist explanation cannot account for all phobias.