evalaution

• strength(1)

  p - real world application in exposure therapies, such as systematic desensitisation.

  e - for example, little albert's study shows the distinctive element of the two-process model which is the idea that phobias are maintained by avoidance of the phobic stimulus.
• strength (1...)

  e - therefore this is important in explaining why people with phobias benefit from being exposed to phobic stimulus . as once the avoidance behaviour is prevented it ceases to be reinforced by the experience of anxiety reduction and avoidance therefore declines.

  l - as a result, in behavioural terms the phobia is the avoidance behaviour so when this avoidance is prevented the phobia is cured. this shows the value of the two-process approach because it identifies a means of treating phobias.
• strength (2)

  p - evidence for a link between traumatic experiences and phobias.

  e - Jongh et al.(2006) found out that 73% of people with a fear of dental treatment had experienced a traumatic experience. this can be compared to a control group of people with low dental fear anxiety where only 21% had experienced a traumatic experience.

  l- therefore this confirms that the association between stimulus (dentistry) and an ucr (pain) does lead to the development of the phobia.
• strength (2) counterpoint


  p - not all phobias appear following a bad experience.

  e - some common phobias such as snake phobias occur in populations where very few have any experience of snakes let alone traumatic experiences.

  l - this means that the association between phobias and frightening experiences is not as strong as we could expect if behavioural theories provided a complete explanation.