explaining phobias (behavioural)

• What is the two-process model?


  states phobias r acquired by classical conditioning & then continue bc of operant conditioning
• What does the behavioural approach emphasise?

  The role of learning in the acquisition of behaviour
• Who proposed the two-process model?


  Mowrer
• How does classical conditioning come into play when explaining phobias?

  - learn to associate a neutral stimulus (e.g dog) w smth that alr triggers a fear response (being bitten) triggering a fear response (US)
• What is an example of evidence of classical conditioning? AO3

  Watson & Rayner created a phobia in a 9-month old baby called 'Little Albert
• What was the procedure of Watson & Rayner study? AO3


  - whenever presented w white rat they banged an iron bar close to his ear

  - noise = unconditioned stimulus, creating a response of fear

  - rat = neutral stimulus

  - as result of noise rat became conditioned stimulus - conditioned response of fear & panic
• How are phobias maintained through operant conditioning?


  - mowrer suggested:

  - when you avoid a phobic stimulus we escape the fear of anxiety we would have face.

  - this negatively reinforces the behaviour so it is maintained

  - only way to cure phobia is to face the fear & not avoid the object - breaking negative reinforcement
• What is one limitation for the behavioural approach to explaining phobias?


  - does not account for cognitive aspects of phobias

  - behavioural explanations geared towards explaining behaviour

  - Not all phobias r avoidance response, e.g irrational beliefs

  - two-process model does not completely explain symptoms of phobias
• What is one final limitation of two-process model?


  - neglects influence of evolutionary theory

  - phobias have adaptive value, helped our ancestors survive - have become common in pop. through natural selection

  - want to avoid bad situations that put u in danger/ not explained in two-process model
• What is one strength of behavioural approach to explaining phobias?


  - evidence for link between bad experiences & phobias

  - little Albert study

  - confirms association between stimulus & unconditioned response leading to development of phobia