Explaining phobias:

• What is the behavioural approach?

  A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning.
• What is the two-process model?

  An explanation for the onset and persistence of disorders that create anxiety, such as phobias. The two processes are classical conditioning for onset and operant conditioning for persistence.
• Who proposed the two-process model?

  Ovral Hobart Mowrer in 1960
• The acquisition of phobias: classical conditioning

  • Classical conditioning is learning through association
  • The two-process model suggests that phobias are acquired through classical conditioning when an individual associates a neutral stimulus with a traumatic incident
  • Watson & Rayner (1920) conducted an experiment to demonstrate how phobias can be acquired through classical conditioning
• The maintenance of phobias: Operant conditioning

  • Operant conditioning is learning through consequences
  • According to operant conditioning, if behaviour is reinforced, it is more likely that it will be repeated
  • By avoiding the feared stimulus, the sufferer avoids fear (negative reinforcement)
  • The sufferer will therefore repeat the behaviour of avoiding the feared stimulus
  • This means that the sufferer will fail to face their fear, so their phobia will be maintained
• What is a strength of the two-process model in treating phobias?

  Its real-world application in exposure therapies
• What is the distinctive element of the two-process model?

  Phobias are maintained by avoidance of the stimulus
• Why do people with phobias benefit from exposure to the feared stimulus?

  It prevents avoidance behavior and reduces anxiety
• How does preventing avoidance behavior affect phobias?

  It ceases reinforcement and leads to decline
• In behavioral terms, what does the phobia represent?

  The avoidance behavior of the individual
• What happens when avoidance behavior is prevented in phobia treatment?

  The phobia is cured
• What is a limitation of the behavioral explanation of phobias?

  It is incomplete regarding phobia development.
• What happens when a neutral stimulus is associated with a fearful experience?

  It should result in a phobia.
• What did research find about dog bites and phobias?

  Not everyone bitten develops a phobia.
• What does the diathesis-stress model propose?

  We inherit a genetic vulnerability for disorders.
• How does the diathesis-stress model explain the development of phobias?

  A dog bite leads to phobia only if vulnerable.
• Why is the behavioral explanation considered incomplete?

  It does not account for genetic vulnerabilities.