Behavioural Explanations

• The Two Process model

  • emphasises learning in the acquisition of behaviour
  • phobias are acquired through classical conditioning and maintenance because of operant conditioning
• Watson and Rayner

  • rat -> no response
  • noise -> fear
  • rat + noise -> fear
  • rat -> fear
• Maintenance - operant conditioning

  • responses acquired by classical conditioning usually tend to decline overtime
  • phobias are long lasting because of operant conditioning
  • negative reinforcement increases the likelihood of a response occurring because it involves the removal of unpleasant consequences
  • you avoid and unpleasant situation of phobic stimulus so you escape the anxiety and fear you would have suffered if you remained there
  • this reduction in fear reinforces the avoidance behaviour and so the phobia is maintained