The Behaviourist Approach to Explaining Phobias

• Who conducted what experiment?

  Watson and Rayner's 'Little Albert' experiment
• Aim:

  To investigate whether phobias are learnt through classical conditioning.
• Method:

  Laboratory experiment using a single participant – Little Albert, a 9-month-old baby.
• Procedure:

  Watson and Raynor presented Little Albert with a white rat and he showed no fear. Watson then presented the rat with a loud bang that startled Little Albert and made him cry. Watson continued this behaviour until an association was formed.
• Results:

  After the continuous association of the white rat and loud noise, Little Albert was classically conditioned to experience fear at the sight of the rat. A phobia had been taught. Albert's fear generalised to other stimuli that were similar to the rat, including a fur coat, some cotton wool, and a Father Christmas mask.
• Conclusion:

  Phobias can be learnt through classical conditioning. This study supports the behaviourist explanation of phobias.
• What is the behaviourist explanation of phobias?

  Phobias are learnt and maintained through the ‘two-process model’. They are initially acquired through classical conditioning (learning through association) and they are then maintained through operant conditioning (learning through consequences).
• How are phobias learnt?

  How a phobia of dentists is acquired through classical conditioning:

  • Injection (UCS) --> Fear (UCR)
  • Injection (UCS) + Dentist (NS) --> Fear (UCR)
  • Dentist (CS) --> Fear (CR)
• How are phobias maintained?

  • The principles of operant conditioning explain why a phobia is maintained
  • Avoidance behaviour, where an individual leaves situations where they may be exposed to their phobic stimulus act as negative reinforcement
  • This is taking away an unpleasant feeling (fear), and it encourages the phobia to continue and be maintained