𝓜𝓸𝔀𝓻𝓮𝓻 - Two process theory

• Behavioural approach

  Explaining phobias
• Mohrer's two-process theory

  Key assumption of the behavioural approach is that all of our behaviour, including phobias, are learnt
• Two-process model

  1. Phobias are learnt/initiated through classical conditioning

  2. Phobias are maintained by operant conditioning
• Example of classical conditioning leading to phobia

  • Someone may be bitten by a dog and associate the pain with the dog (classical conditioning), developing a fear of dogs
• Due to fear of dogs

  Person tries to avoid dogs to not experience the feeling of fear (negative reinforcement)
• Classical conditioning

  Learning to associate a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus that naturally leads to a fear response
• Classical conditioning process

  1. Neutral stimulus paired with unconditioned stimulus

  2. Neutral stimulus becomes conditioned stimulus leading to conditioned response (fear)
• Example of classical conditioning

  • Drill (neutral stimulus)
  • Nerve being hit (unconditioned stimulus)
  • Pain (unconditioned response)
  • Fear (conditioned response)
• Operant conditioning

  Explains how phobias can be maintained once they have been learnt through classical conditioning
• Example of operant conditioning maintaining phobia


  • Person avoids going to the dentist to avoid the fear of the drill (negative reinforcement), maintaining the phobia
• Classical conditioning does not explain how the phobia is maintained after initiation
• Operant conditioning suggests the consequences of fear actions can lead to the behaviour being reinforced
• 𝓢𝓽𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓰𝓽𝓱𝓼:

  • Supporting research - 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐚𝐲𝐧𝐞𝐫. Tried to create a phobia in a 9 month old (Baby Albert). Repeatedly paired a loud noise with a white rat to condition the baby to be scared of the rat. However, this lacks ecological validity due to these events not naturally occurring in real life.
  • Practical applications - systematic desensitisation assumes a phobia can be learnt through association, and can also be unlearnt using association. 𝐆𝐢𝐥𝐫𝐨𝐲 found this worked with a spider phobia.
• 𝓛𝓲𝓶𝓲𝓽𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼:

  • Ignores evolution - phobias do not always develop after a traumatic experience. Some things are just a survival instinct to avoid. We are innately programmed.
  • Reductionist - reduces down the cause of a phobia down to a stimulus that provokes anxiety rather than its other features.