5. The Behavioural Approach to Explaining Phobias

• 1. The Behavioural Approach to Explaining Phobias

  Mowrer (1960):

  • Two-process model; phobias acquired through classical conditioning; maintained through operant conditioning.
• 1a. The Behavioural Approach to Explaining Phobias

  Stage 1 - Acquisition of Phobia through CC:

  • Traumatic event.
  • Repeated exposure = fear response.
  • Fear (UCR) associated w/ phobic stimulus (UCS).
  • Fear becomes CR + p.s. becomes CS.
• 1b. The Behavioural Approach to Explaining Phobias

  Stage 2 - Maintenance of Phobia through OC:

  • Reinforcement increases behaviour.
  • Avoids unpleasant situation.
  • Receive good outcome (negative reinforcement), avoid p.s. = escape fear/anxiety.
  • Anxiety reduction = avoidance increases.
• 2. The Behavioural Approach to Explaining Phobias

  Watson + Rayner (1920) - Little Albert:

  • White Rat (NS) = No Response.
  • Loud Noise (UCS) = Fear (UCR).
  • White Rat (NS) + Loud Noise (UCS) = Fear (UCR).
  • White Rat (CS) = Fear (CR).
• 3. The Behavioural Approach to Explaining Phobias

  Social Learning Theory:

  • Phobia acquired through modelling behaviour of others.
  • e.g. parent responds spider w/ fear, child does same as behaviour seems rewarding.
• The Behavioural Approach to Explaining Phobias (Evaluation)

  Strength:

  P - real-life/practical application, exposure therapies (systematic desensitisation).

  E - two-process model, phobias maintained by avoiding p.s. = shows benefit of exposure therapies.

  E - avoidance prevented, not reinforced by anxiety reduction = avoidance declines.

  L - when avoidance prevented, phobia can be cured, proving value of two-process approach = treatment.
• The Behavioural Approach to Explaining Phobias (Evaluation)

  Limitation:

  P - doesn’t account for cognitive aspects, only explains behaviour.

  E - irrational beliefs about p.s.; two-process model only explains avoidance behaviour, no explanation for phobic cognitions.

  L - not completely explain symptoms of phobias.
• The Behavioural Approach to Explaining Phobias (Evaluation)

  Strength:

  P - evidence for link between bad experiences + phobias, seen in Watson + Rayner (1920), Little Albert.

  E - Jongh (2006), 73% fear dental treatment, experienced traumatic event w/ dentistry/violence.

  E - control group, 21% experienced trauma.

  L - associations between NS (dentistry) + UCR (pain) = development of phobia.
• The Behavioural Approach to Explaining Phobias (Evaluation)

  Limitation:

  P - not all phobias from traumatic experience.

  E - e.g. snake phobias occur in places where not many snakes.

  L - association between phobias + traumatic experience not as strong as expect according to behavioural explanation.