Mowrer suggested that phobias are acquired through classical conditioning and then maintained through operant conditioning.
Watson and Rayner demonstrated how Little Albert associated the fear caused by a loud bang with a white rat. He was exposed to a white rat (NS), producing no response.
When paired with the loud bang (UCS), this produced the UCR of fear. Through several repetitions, Albert made the association between the rat (CS) and fear (CR).
This conditioning then generalised to other objects e.g. white fluffy Santa Claus hats.
Operant conditioning takes place when a behaviour is rewarded or punished.
For example, phobics practice avoidance behaviours, meaning that they avoid the phobic stimulus. By avoiding this phobic stimulus, they avoid the associated fear.
By avoiding such an unpleasant consequence, the avoidance behaviour is negatively reinforced and likely to be repeated again, hence maintaining the phobia.
STRENGTH OF PHOBIA EXPLANATION:
Good explanatory power - The main advantage of this theory is that it can explain the mechanism behind the acquisition and maintenance of phobias, which classical or operant conditioning alone cannot do. This translates to practical benefits in systematic desensitisation and flooding.
Mowrer emphasises the importance of exposing the patient to the phobic stimulus because this prevents the negative reinforcement of avoidance behaviour. The patient realises that the phobic stimulus is harmless and that their responses are irrational/disproportionate, thus translating into a successful therapy.
WEAKNESS OF PHOBIA EXPLANATION:
Alternative explanation for avoidance behaviour
Buck suggested that safety is a greater motivator for avoidance behaviour, rather than simply avoiding the anxiety associated with the phobic stimulus
This means that Mowrer’s explanation of phobias may be incomplete and only suited for some.
WEAKNESS OF PHOBIA EXPLANATION 2:
Alternative explanation for the acquisition of phobias
Seligman suggested that we are more likely to develop phobias towards ‘prepared’ stimuli e.g. stimuli which would have posed a threat to evolutionary ancestors e.g. fire or deep water
Therefore running away from such a stimulus increases the likelihood of survival and reproduction, and so this behaviour has a selective evolutionary advantage.