the behavioural approach to explaining phobias

• Orval Hobart Mowrer (1960)

  proposed the two-process model based on the behavioural approach to phobias. This states that phobias are acquired (learned in the first place) by classical conditioning and then continue because of operant conditioning.
• two-process model

  an explanation for the onset and persistence of disorders that create anxiety, such as phobias. the two processes are classical conditioning for onset and operant conditioning for persistence.
• acquisition by classical conditioning (1)


  classical conditioning involves learning to associate something of which we initially have no fear (ns) with something that already triggers a fear response (known as ucs).
• acquisition by classical conditioning (2)

  john watson + rosalie rayner (1920) created a phobia in a 9-month-old baby called 'little albert'. when shown a white rat he tried to play with it. however the experimenters then set out to give albert a phobia. whenever the rat was presented to albert the researchers made a loud noise by banging an iron bar close to albert's ear.
• acquisition by classical conditioning (3)

  this noise is an ucs which creates an ucr of fear. when the rat (ns) and the ucs are encountered close together in time the ns becomes associated with the ucs and both now produce the fear response - albert displayed fear when he saw a rat (ns). the rat is now a cs that produces a cr.
• acquisition by classical conditioning (4)


  this conditioning then generalised to similar objects. they tested albert by showing him other furry objects such as a non-white rabbit, a fur coat and watson wearing a santa clause beard made out of cotton balls. little albert displayed distress at the sight of all of these.
• maintenance by operant conditioning (1)

  operant conditioning takes place when our behaviour is reinforced (rewarded) or punished. reinforcement tends to increase the frequency of a behaviour. this is true of both negative + positive reinforcement.
• maintenance by operant conditioning (2)

  in the case of negative reinforcement an individual avoids a situation that is unpleasant. such a behaviour results in a desirable consequence, which means the behaviour will be repeated.
• maintenance by operant conditioning (3)

  mowrer suggested that whenever we avoid a phobic stimulus we successfully escape the fear and anxiety that we would have experienced if we had remained there. this reduction in fear reinforces the avoidance behaviour and so the phobia is maintained.
• operant conditioning 


  a form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences. possible consequences of behaviour include positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement or punishment
• classical conditioning

  learning by association. occurs when two stimuli repeatedly paired together (ucs + ns). the ns eventually produces the same response that was first produced by the ucs alone.
• behavioural approach


  a way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning.