Behavioural explanation

• what is the two process model - Mower


  Involves both classical + operant conditioning

  1. fear develops through classical conditioning - learn to associate object with fear
  2. fear is maintained through operant conditioning as a person learns to avoid stimulus -avoid fear through negative reinforcement
• What is classical conditioning ?

  • an association between stimulus and response
  • Pavlov
  • aquisition-how they form
• What is operant conditioning ?

  • consequence of an action affects whether an action is repeated or changed
  • allows formation of new behaviours
• What is evaluation ?

  1. Reductionist
  2. little Albert
  3. dienardo
• Why reductionist ?

  • ignored cognitive factors e.g thought processes
  • ignored individual differences
• What dienardo ?


  study of people afraid of dogs

  • 50 % relate fear to attack
  • support classical
  • control group of ppl attacked but no phobia