1. Phobic person avoids situations with phobic object
2. Anxiety is reduced, which acts as negative reinforcement
Social learning theory
Learning can happen vicariously by observing models
Common phobias
Snakes
Birds
Dogs
Phobias of snakes, birds, and dogs had an evolutionary origin as our very early ancestors could have been hunted/attacked by these creatures
Phobias to objects that are more dangerous in the modern day (i.e: knives, cars) are rare
Behaviourist theories of phobia formation and maintenance have lead to effective counter-conditioning treatments such as flooding and systematic desensitisation
Watson and Rayner (1920) used a child called little Albert to demonstrate how phobias could be induced in a child
Menzies and Clarke (1993) found that only 2% of children with a fear of water could recall a traumatic experience with water, suggesting that the behaviourist explanation cannot account for all phobias
The Watson and Rayner study was a highly unethical study as it caused its participant (little Albert) emotional harm
