Behaviourist explanation for phobias

• The behaviourist approach claims that abnormal behaviour can be caused by:

  classical conditioning

  operant conditioning

  social learning theory
• Mowrer ( 1941 ) proposed a two process model to explain how phobias are learned through classical conditioning
• Classical conditioning is learning by associating two stimuli together to condition a response.
• Classical conditioning in phobias example: being trapped in a lift can cause a fear response due to being trapped, associating the lift with the fear of being trapped.
• Watson and Rayner ( 1920 ) investigated whether a fear response could be learned through classical conditioning in humans
• Watson and Rayner ( 1920 ) studied a 11 month old called little Albert. He showed no response to a white rat.
• Watson and Rayner ( 1920 ) struck a metal bar with a hammer behind little Albert's head, causing a loud noise which startled him every time he went to reach for the white rat. They did this three times
• Watson and Rayner ( 1920 ) found that after the conditioning, little Albert cried every time he was shown the white rat
• Watson and Rayner ( 1920 ) showed that a fear response can be induced through the process of classical conditioning in humans. The experiment found that his fear was generalised to white furry objects
• Classical conditioning explains how we develop a phobia, but not why they don't decay over time. Through operant conditioning, phobias can be negatively reinforced.
• Operant conditioning in phobias example: if someone avoids their phobia, this reduces their feelings of anxiety. This makes them more likely to repeat this avoidance in the future. This makes them continue to avoid their phobia and maintain them
• Phobias are initiated through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning
• AO3. A strength of the behavioural explanation is its application to therapy. The behaviourist ideas have been used to develop treatments, including systematic desensitisation and flooding. Systematic desensitisation helps people unlearn their fears, using principles of classical conditioning. Flooding prevents people from avoiding their phobias and stops negative reinforcement from taking place. These therapies have successfully treat people with phobias, providing further support for the effectiveness of the behaviourist approach.
• AO3. The behavioural explanation for the development of phobias ignores the role of cognition. Phobias may develop as a result of irrational thinking, not just learning. For example, sufferers of claustrophobia may think " I am going to be trapped in this lift and suffocate ", which is an irrational thought, not taken into consideration in the behaviourist explanation. Furthermore, the cognitive approach has also led to the development of cognitive behavioural therapy, which is said to be more successful than the behaviourist treatments.
• AO3. There is a claim that the behavioural approach may not provide a complete explanation of phobias. Bounton ( 2007 ) highlights the fact that evolutionary factors could play a role in phobias, especially if the avoidance of a particular stimulus could have caused pain or death to our ancestors eg snakes or heights. These phobias may have been created as a survival mechanism. This is called biological preparedness. This casts doubt on the two process model since it suggests that there is more to phobias than learning.
• AO3. There are ethical issues in Watson and Rayner 's study. Little Albert was not able to give informed consent as he was a child, and he was not protected from psychological harm. He was withdrawn from the study before the phobia was unconditioned, meaning he would have to live with the phobia for the rest of his life, showing lasting negative effects on his quality of life due to the study.