PATH

• The importance of classical conditioning
• Two-process model


  • Supported by research asking people about their phobias
  • People with phobias often recall a specific incident when their phobia appeared
  • Not everyone who has a phobia can recall such an incident
  • Traumatic incidents may have happened but been forgotten
  • Different phobias may be the result of different processes
• Agoraphobics were most likely to explain their disorder in terms of a specific incident


  Arachnophobics were most likely to cite modelling as the cause
• This demonstrates the role of classical conditioning in developing phobias, but other processes may be involved in their maintenance
• If a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a fearful experience the result should be a phobia, but this doesn't always happen
• Diathesis-stress model


  We inherit a genetic vulnerability for developing mental disorders, but a disorder will only manifest itself if triggered by a life event
• The behavioural explanation is incomplete on its own
• Bandura and Rosenthal experiment


  • Supported the social learning theory
  • A child developed an emotional reaction to a buzzer as he was in pain every time it sounded
• Biological preparedness


  Animals, including humans, are genetically programmed to rapidly learn an association between potentially life-threatening stimuli and fear
• The behavioural approach cannot explain all phobias
• Two-process model


  • Ignores cognitive factors
• Cognitive approach


  Phobias may develop as the consequence of irrational thinking
• Cognitive therapies such as CBT may be more successful than behaviourist treatments in some situations, e.g. social phobia responds better to CBT