Behavioural Explanation

• Two-Process Model

  1. Acquisition by classical conditioning
  2. Maintenance by operant conditioning
  3. Stimulus generalisation
• Acquisition by classical conditioning

  • involves learning to associate something of which we originally have no fear (NS) with something that triggers a fear response (UCS) so that fear response (CR) is achieved from the original stimuli (CS)
• Stimulus generalisation

  • phobias can be generalised to other similar stimuli

  'Little Albert' experiment - white rat phobia was generalised to other white things
• Maintenance by operant conditioning

  • takes place when behaviour is reinforced or punished (positively and negatively)

  --> when a phobic stimulus is avoided, the reduction in fear negatively reinforces the behaviour so the phobia is maintained
• (TP) + Good explanatory power

  • explains how phobias can be maintained over time which has important implication for therapy
• (TP) - Alternative explanations for avoidance

  • avoidance isn't always the result of anxiety reduction but is sometimes motivated by other factors e.g. safety (Buck)
• (TP) - Incomplete explanation of phobias

  • may be evolutionary factors involved, not all phobias follow traumatic events (classical conditioning) e.g. phobia of snakes having never met one
• (TP) - Other aspects of phobias

  • behavioural approach only focuses on behavioural characteristics not cognitive or emotional

  --> reductionist approach, only a partial explanation