Behavioural explanation phobia

• What is the behaviorist approach to explaining phobias


  Way of explaining behaviour in terms of observation and learning
• what is the two process model of the behaviorist approach to explaining phobias


  acquisition of phobias through classical conditioning

  maintainance of phobias through operant conditioning
• how does classical conditioning work in the behaviorist approach to explaining phobias

  fearful thing (unconditioned stimulus) >>> fear (unconditioned response)

  spider (neutral stimulus) >>> no response

  fearful thing+spider >(over time)>> >>>>>>>>fear

  spider (conditioned stimul) >> fear (conditioned response)
• How does operant conditioning work

  In the behaviorist approach to explaining phobias


  Person learns that avoiding phobia prevents feeling fear, negatively reinforcing avoidant behaviour- likely to be repeated
• what is classical conditioning 


  associate 2 stimuli together so respond the same way
• what is operant conditioning 


  learning to repeat or not a behaviour based on consequence
• one strength of the behaviorist approach to explaining phobias


  supporting study by watson + rayner ‘little albert study’ - demonstrates classical conditioning by teaching albert to fear rats by associating rat with loud bang
• strength of the behaviorist approach to explaining phobias


  supporting evidence found 73% people scared of dentist had painful experience there > increases validity
• weakness of the behaviorist approach to explaining phobias


  doesnt account for biological reason = common phobias like spiders develop without association or trauma its biological. humans biologically prepared to develop fear of spider because dangerous to ancestors
• strength of the behaviorist approach to explaining phobias


  application through exposure therapy= patient exposed to phobia safely, stops avoidant behaviour, results in no association with phobia and fear