Explaining phobias

• What is classical conditioning?

  learning through association
• what is operant conditioning?

  a form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences
• who suggested the two process model?

  Mowrer 1960
• what is the two process model?

  • phobias are acquired through classical conditioning.
  • maintained through operant conditioning.
• who conducted the little albert study?

  Watson and rayner 1920
• describe the little albert study?

  • albert had no previous anxiety at the start.
  • they paired the rat and a loud noise together.
  • which conditioned Albert to fear rats.
  • the rat became a conditioned stimulus that produced a conditioned response of fear.
  • this conditioning then generalised to similar objects
• how did the generalisation of the conditioning in the little Albert’s study work?

  they showed albert other furry objects to which he displayed distress to all.
• when does operant conditionIng take place?

  when our behaviour is reinforced (rewarded) or punished.

  reinforcement increases tendency of a behaviour
• how is the phobia maintained by operant conditioning?

  • avoid phobic stimulus
  • escape the fear and anxiety.
  • reduction in fear reinforces the avoidance behaviour.
  • phobia is maintained