Evaluation

• Evaluate real world application as a strength?

  • Two process model applied to exposure therapies such as systematic desensitisation.
  • Model expalins why phobias are maintained by avoidance of phobic stimulus (backs up importance of exposure).
  • Once avoidance behaviour is prevented- ceases to be reinforced by the anxiety reduction and so declines.
  • Shows value of the model which gives a means of treating phobias.
• evaluate cognitive aspects of phobias as a limitation?

  • model does not account for cognitive aspects.
  • focus on explaining behaviour.
  • phobias consist of cognitive components such as irrational beliefs.
  • model does not explain phobias thoughts.
  • the model does not fully explain the symptoms of phobias
• evaluate phobias and traumatic experiences as a strength.

  • Link between bad experiences and phobias.
  • ad de Jongh et al (2006): 73% of people who fear dental treatment had a traumatic experience. in a control group, where people had low fear of dental treatment only 21% of them had experienced a traumatic event.
  • therefore, it confirms association between stimulus and unconditioned responses leading to phobias
• how can you counteract phobias and traumatic experiences?

  • not all phobias are a result of bad experiences.
  • common phobias like snakes appear in populations where snakes are very rare.
  • association between phobias and frightening experiences is not as strong.
• describe learning and evolution?

  • behavioural explanations of phobias provide credible individual explanations on how phobias are acquired and maintained.
  • phobias may be better explained by evolutionary theory.
  • we tend to acquire phobias of things that have presented a danger in our past.
  • this is called preparedness (seligman 1971)