behavioral approach to explaining phobias

• What is the behavioural approach to phobias?

  Phobias can be caused by classical and operant conditioning.
• What is Mowrer's two-process model?

  It explains how phobias are learned through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning.
• What is the unconditioned stimulus in classical conditioning?

  The stimulus that naturally triggers a fear response.
• What is the unconditioned response in classical conditioning?

  The fear response that is naturally triggered by the unconditioned stimulus.
• How does classical conditioning explain the development of phobias?

  It involves associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus that triggers a fear response.
• What is the conditioned stimulus in classical conditioning?

  The neutral stimulus that becomes associated with the unconditioned stimulus.
• What is the conditioned response in classical conditioning?

  The fear response that is triggered by the conditioned stimulus.
• How does operant conditioning maintain phobias?

  Negative reinforcement: Avoidance of the phobic stimulus reduces fear and reinforces the phobia.
• How does avoidance behavior reinforce phobias?

  Avoidance behavior reduces anxiety and increases the likelihood of repeating the behavior in the future.
• What is an example of operant conditioning in a phobia of lifts?


  A person with a phobia of lifts always taking the stairs to avoid their phobia.
• What is the behavioural explanation of phobias?

  Phobias are acquired through classical conditioning.
• What experiment supports the behavioural explanation of phobias?

  Watson & Raynor's Little Albert experiment.
• What did Watson & Raynor aim to create in Little Albert?

  A fear of white rats.
• How did Watson & Raynor create a phobia in Little Albert?

  By pairing the white rat with a loud, frightening noise.
• Did Watson & Raynor successfully create a phobia in Little Albert?

  Yes, they successfully created a phobia of white rats.
• What does the Little Albert experiment support?

  The behavioural explanation of phobias through classical conditioning.
• What is a limitation of the Little Albert experiment?

  It was conducted in a controlled setting, not a natural environment.
• What is a strength of the behavioural explanation of phobias?

  Its application to therapy.
• What treatments have been developed based on the behaviourist ideas?

  Systematic desensitisation and flooding.
• What does systematic desensitisation help people to do?

  Unlearn their fears using classical conditioning principles.
• What does flooding prevent people from doing?

  Avoiding their phobias and experiencing negative reinforcement.
• What is a weakness of the behavioural approach of phobias?


  It may not provide a complete explanation of phobias.
• What role do evolutionary factors play in phobias?

  They suggest that some phobias are innate and acted as a survival mechanism for our ancestors.
• What is the term for the innate predisposition to certain phobias?

  Biological preparedness.
• What is an example of an evolutionary factor that could contribute to a phobia?

  Avoidance of a stimulus that could have caused pain or death to our ancestors, such as snakes.
• Who introduced the concept of biological preparedness?

  Seligman in 1971.
• Does the presence of biological preparedness invalidate the behavioural explanation of phobias?


  No, it suggests that the behavioural explanation may not be valid for certain phobias, but it can still be valid for other specific phobias.