Acquisition

• The acquisition of phobias is explained through classical conditioning
• Watson and Rayner (1920) - explained classical conditions of phobias through little albert, a rat, and a bang. Albert acquired a phobia of rats
• A neutral stimulus (A rat) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus (a loud bang), which creates an unconditioned response (fear)
• When the neutral stimulus (rat) and the unconditioned stimulus (loud noise) are encountered at the same time, they become associated
• When the association occurs, the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus (rat) which now produces a conditioned response (fear)
• Stimulus generalisation - the fear of one phobia (a rat) can be transferred to the fear of other similar stimuli (a rabbit)