4.2.1 The Two-Process Model

• Avoiding spiders reduces anxiety, reinforcing the phobia through operant conditioning
• Match the strength of the two-process model with its description:

  Explains phobia development ↔️ Links traumatic experiences to learned fear

  Clarifies maintenance through avoidance ↔️ Highlights the role of anxiety reduction

  Practical application ↔️ Guides behavioral therapies like systematic desensitization
• What is one limitation of the two-process model in explaining phobias?

  Limited explanation of all phobias
• The two-process model neglects the role of cognitive factors
• A phobia is an irrational fear that leads to avoidance of a particular object, activity, or situation
• The fear associated with a phobia is proportionate to the actual danger posed by the object or situation.

  False
• Individuals with phobias go to great lengths to avoid the feared stimulus
• Phobias interfere significantly with daily life and normal functioning.
• Match the phobia classification with its description:

  Specific Phobias ↔️ Fear of a single object or situation

  Social Anxiety Disorder ↔️ Fear of social situations
• The behavioural approach suggests that phobias are innate.

  False
• Classical conditioning in phobias involves associating a neutral stimulus with a traumatic event
• Avoidance behavior in phobias is positively reinforced because it reduces anxiety.
• Mowrer's Two-Process Model explains how phobias are acquired through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning
• Steps in the Two-Process Model for phobia acquisition and maintenance:

  1️⃣ Classical conditioning associates fear with a neutral stimulus

  2️⃣ Operant conditioning reinforces avoidance behavior
• Experiencing a painful bee sting is an example of an unconditioned stimulus in classical conditioning.
• Classical conditioning in phobias involves associating a neutral stimulus with a traumatic experience
• Avoiding a feared object reduces anxiety, which positively reinforces the avoidance behavior.
• Classical conditioning in phobias pairs a neutral stimulus with a traumatic event or unconditioned stimulus
• Mowrer's Two-Process Model combines classical and operant conditioning to explain phobias.
• In classical conditioning, an unconditioned stimulus naturally triggers an unconditioned response
• Operant conditioning maintains phobias through positive and negative reinforcement of avoidance behaviors.
• What is the conditioned response in the example of a canine phobia after being bitten by a dog?

  Fear upon seeing dogs
• Operant conditioning reinforces avoidance behaviors through positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement.
• Positive reinforcement in operant conditioning reduces anxiety and increases avoidance likelihood.
• How does staying indoors to avoid spiders negatively reinforce arachnophobic behavior?

  Removes aversive stimulus
• A phobia is defined as an irrational fear that leads to avoidance of a particular object, activity, or situation.
• Phobias involve excessive fear disproportionate to the actual danger.
• Under which categories does the DSM-5 classify phobias?

  Specific Phobias and Social Anxiety Disorder
• The behavioural approach posits that phobias are learned through experience.
• Steps in Mowrer's Two-Process Model for phobias

  1️⃣ Classical Conditioning: Association of neutral stimulus with trauma

  2️⃣ Operant Conditioning: Avoidance reinforced by anxiety reduction
• Classical conditioning in Mowrer's Two-Process Model involves pairing a neutral stimulus with a traumatic event.
• The two-process model explains how phobias are acquired and maintained.
• What is the unconditioned stimulus in classical conditioning for a phobia?

  A traumatic event
• Operant conditioning maintains phobias through avoidance behavior, which is reinforced by a reduction in anxiety.
• Match the type of reinforcement with its effect on phobias:

  Positive Reinforcement ↔️ Anxiety relief increases avoidance likelihood

  Negative Reinforcement ↔️ Removal of aversive stimulus encourages avoidance
• Avoidance behavior in operant conditioning is reinforced because it reduces anxiety.
• A neutral stimulus becomes associated with a traumatic event, leading to a phobia
• Operant conditioning maintains phobias through reinforcement of avoidance
• Match the type of reinforcement with its example:

  Positive Reinforcement ↔️ Avoiding spiders provides anxiety relief

  Negative Reinforcement ↔️ Staying indoors removes exposure to spiders
• The two-process model states that phobias are acquired through operant conditioning and maintained through classical conditioning.

  False