Behaviourist explanation of mental illness

• What is the key principle of the behaviourist perspective on mental illness?

  All behaviour is learned through our environment via the process of conditioning.
• How does the behaviourist perspective view abnormal behaviour?

  It views abnormal behaviour as a result of maladaptive learning.
• What does the behaviourist perspective emphasize in understanding mental disorders?

  Observable behaviour rather than physiology, emotion, or thoughts.
• What is the relationship between behaviour and thoughts according to the behaviourist perspective?

  Behaviour has a direct impact on thoughts and feelings.
• What happens when maladaptive learning is replaced by adaptive learning?

  The individual will recover from their mental disorder.
• What are the main focuses of behaviour treatments?

  • Unlearning unhelpful behaviours
  • Learning new, more helpful behaviours
• What is classical conditioning?

  The process by which we learn via association.
• What is a neutral stimulus in classical conditioning?

  Anything that can be conditioned, such as the bell in Pavlov's experiment.
• What is the unconditioned stimulus in Pavlov's experiment?

  Food, which produces a natural reflex (unconditioned response).
• What happens when a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus are presented together?

  The neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus.
• What is the conditioned response in Pavlov's experiment?

  Drooling in response to the bell.
• How did John Watson contribute to classical conditioning?

  He applied the principles of classical conditioning to humans.
• What is operant conditioning?

  Learning that occurs through reinforcement and punishment.
• What is positive reinforcement?

  Reinforcing behaviour by providing something pleasant.
• What is negative reinforcement?

  Performing a behaviour to remove something unpleasant.
• What is positive punishment?

  Giving something unpleasant to stop a behaviour.
• What is negative punishment?

  Taking away something pleasant to stop a behaviour.
• What is Mowrer's two-process model of phobias?

  1. Classical Conditioning: Phobia is developed by associating a situation or object with anxiety.
  2. Operant Conditioning: Phobia is maintained through reinforcement of fearful responses.
• How does classical conditioning initiate a phobia?

  By associating a situation or object with anxiety and fear.
• How does operant conditioning maintain a phobia?

  Through positive reinforcement of fearful responses and avoidance behaviour.
• What is an example of positive reinforcement in maintaining a phobia?

  Receiving help and comfort when displaying a fearful response.
• How does negative reinforcement work in the context of phobias?

  By avoiding the phobic stimulus to reduce anxiety and fear.
• What happens when someone with a phobia avoids their phobic stimulus?

  Their avoidant behaviour is reinforced, maintaining the phobia.
• What are examples of avoidance behaviour in phobias?

  • Avoiding places where the phobic stimulus may be encountered
  • Leaving a situation quickly to reduce anxiety