behavioural explanations of phobias

• phobia: excessive fear + anxiety unproportional to stimulus
• two-process model: howbart mower

  • phobias acquired by classical conditioning (e.g little albert) and continue due to operant conditioning
  • more often we experience fear the more we avoid it (negative reinforcement)
  • more we avoid stimulus, less fear (positive reinforcement)
• good explanatory power ✅

  • explained maintenance of phobias
  • explains why exposure should be used as prevented from avoidance
• some phobias don't follow trauma 🚫

  • doesn't explain phobias without triggering event
• inability to explain cognitive aspects of phobias 🚫

  • two process model - key behaviour is avoidance of phobic stimulus
  • they are not just avoidance, irrational beliefs also contribute
  • model does not completely explain symptoms of phobias
• ignores evolution reductionist 🚫

  • seligman = biological preparedness = predisposition to have certain fears
  • phenomenon is preparedness