Behavioural approach to explaining phobias

• two process model of phobias

  phobias learned through the environment - Mowrer's two process model states phobias are acquired (learned in the first place) by classical conditioning and maintained because of operant conditioning
• Acquisition by classical conditioning

  phobias learnt through classical conditioning (learning by association) - Little Albert study - Watson and Rayner - Albert (9 months old) had no fear at start of study when shown white rat and tried to play with it - after, whenever Albert presented with rat they made a loud noise by banging bar close to his head - noise (unconditioned stimulus) creates fear (unconditioned response) - rat (neutral stimulus) - Albert learnt to associate noise with rat - rat (conditioned stimulus) fear (conditioned response) - rat produced fear with or without loud noise
• maintenance through operant conditioning 


  phobias maintained as result of operant conditioning (learning by reinforcement) focuses on consequences of behaviour - positive reinforcement (addition of something positive - reward) when behaviour performed - negative reinforcement (removal of something negative) - negative reinforcement explains how phobias maintained - sufferers avoid phobic stimuli = unpleasant, removal of negative (fear) = desirable consequence (reduced anxiety) - reinforces avoidance behaviour - both reinforcements increase likelihood of behaviour being repeated
• TWO PROCESS MODEL EVALUATION - scientific


  focuses on measurable and observable behaviour can be tested in controlled conditions - e.g. phobia developed by Little Albert following conditioning clear to see and measure - supported by empirical evidence
• TWO PROCESS MODEL EVALUATION - practical applications

  systematic desensitisation (uses classical conditioning to unlearn phobias) extremely successful therapy for range of different phobias - McGrath found 75% of phobic patients showed improvement in symptoms after treatment - useful in developing treatments
• TWO PROCESS MODEL EVALUATION - reductionist 


  reduces phobias down to activity of specific variables like environmental (external) and ignores role internal factors may play - e.g. many people develop phobia despite never having a bad experience - requires more holistic view
• TWO PROCESS MODEL EVALUATION - environmentally determinist


  suggests phobias are caused by factors outside our control - e.g. if person develops phobia they may have been programmed by environment and there's nothing they can do to avoid it - removes blame from patient