The Two-process model - phobias

• Mowrer's key assumptions:

  • Phobias are acquired by classical conditioning and maintained by operant conditioning
• Phobias are acquired by classical conditioning as learning occurs through the pairing of a neutral stimulus and another stimulus that produces an automatic response. Eventually, the neutral stimulus can produce the automatic response. Fear is always the unconditioned response.
• NS - UCR

  USC - UCR

  UCS + NS

  NS - CR
• Phobias are maintained through operant conditioning as phobic responses are negatively reinforced when the sufferer avoids a feared object/situation. The fear response is therefore reduced. The reduction in fear reinforces the avoidance behaviour, resulting in the phobia being maintained.
• Strength: plausible explanation for phobias that is supported by evidence such as the Little Albert case study. This has led to effective treatments for phobias such as systematic desensitisation (e.g. exposing the patient to the feared stimulus and preventing avoidance behaviour, reducing the phobic reaction) This shows that the two-process model is a useful way of understanding phobic reactions.
• Weakness: incomplete explanation. We acquire phobias of things that have been a source of danger in our evolutionary past. e.g. the dark. These fears are adaptive; this would explain why phobias of more recent dangers e.g. cars are rare. This shows that there is more to acquiring phobias than conditioning.
• Weakness: not everyone with a phobia can recall a traumatic incident. Different processes may be involved in the acquisition of phobias e.g. social learning theory. This shows that the two-process model is not a complete explanation of phobias.