behavioural explanation

• the main assumption is that all behaviours are learned, therefore phobias are learned through:

  -> classical conditioning [pavlov]

  -> operant conditioning [skinner + thorndike]

  -> social learning theory [bandura]
• Mowrer: the two process model


  step 1- the aquisition of phobias

  step 2- the maintenance of phobias
• what is the aquisition of phobias according to mowrer?

  -> they can be aquired directly through classical conditioning

  -> a person makes an association between a previously neutral stimulus and feelings of fear

  -> little albert case study [watson and rayner]

  -> they can also be aquired indirectly through social learning theory

  -> if we see someone experience something traumatic, we are likely to feel the same fear when exposed to that stimulus

  -> especially if they're a role model

  -> Ost believed a fear of injections is often passed from parents to children
• Bagby 


  woman developed a fear of running of running water after getting her feet stuck in rocks near a waterfall
• King


  found a link between aquiring phobias after traumatic experiences
• Mowrer


  electric shocking rats after a buzzing sound quickly induced a fear response upon hearing the buzzer
• what is maintenance of phobias according to mowrer?

  -> this is believed to occur through operant conditioning

  -> avoiding it acts as negative reinforcemen, we feel better after avoiding it

  -> the fact that we feel better after avoiding it allows us to maintain the phobia

  -> reinforces avoidance response
• evaluation of the behavioural explanation

  + its a scientific approach - they study empirical data to determine cause + effect

  + explains why people develop fears after certain experiences

  + lots of scientific research to support the study
• evaluate the behavioural explanation of phobias

  -> reductionist - over simplifies the reasons and causes of phobias. often have phobias for no reason

  -> determinisitic - assumes that if we have a negative experience it will develop into a phobia

  -> ignores individual differences - we might not aquire and maintain the same way

  -> not all phobias can be traced back to bad experiences