Behavioural Approach Explaining Phobias

Question 1

Behavioural approach:

Answer 1

A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning.

Question 2

Classical conditioning:

Answer 2

Learning by association. Occurs when 2 stimuli (unconditioned stimulus and neutral stimulus). The neutral stimulus eventually produces the same response that was first produced by the unlearned stimulus alone.

Question 3

Operant conditioning:

Answer 3

A form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences.

Question 4

Two-process model:

Answer 4

Phobias are acquired (learned in the 1st place) by classical conditioning and the continue because of operant conditioning. Mowrer.

Question 5

Watson and Rayner: Little Albert

Answer 5

1. LA showed no unusual anxiety at the start of the study. He tried to play with the white rat when shown it.
2. When they presented the rat they made a loud noise, by banging an iron bar close to his ear (UCS), which creates a UCR, fear.
3. When the rat (NS) and the UCS, are encountered close together in time, they both produce a conditioned response.
4. Rat is now a CS that produces a CR.
5. Was then generalised to similar objects, non-white rabbit, a fur coat and Watson wearing a Santa Claus beard made out of cotton balls. Displayed distress.

Question 6

Maintenance by Operant Conditioning

Answer 6

1. In negative reinforcement, an individual avoids a situation that is unpleasant, results in a desirable consequence. Behaviour is less likely to be repeated.
2. Mowrer suggested that whenever we avoid a phobic stimulus we successfully escape the fear and anxiety that we would have suffered if we had remained there.
3. Reduction in fear reinforces the avoidance behaviour and the phobia is maintained.

Question 7

E: Good Explanation

Answer 7

1. 2 process model was a step forward when it was proposed in 1960 as it went beyond Watson and Rayner’s concept of classical conditioning.
2. It explained how phobias could be maintained over time, had important implications for therapies because it explains why patients need to exposed to the feared stimulus.
3. Once they stop avoidance behaviour, the behaviour stops being reinforced, so it declines.
4. Application to therapy is a strength.

Question 8

E: Alternative Explanation

Answer 8

1. Not all avoidance behaviour is done for anxiety reduction, especially in more complex phobias like agoraphobia.
2. Some evidence that avoidance behaviour is due to positive feelings of safety, not leaving the house to stick with the safety factor.
3. This could explain why patients with agoraphobia are able to leave their house with a trusted person with relatively little anxiety, but not alone (Buck 2010).
4. Problem for the 2 process model, avoidance is motivated by anxiety reduction.

Question 9

E: An incomplete explanation

Answer 9

1. If we accept that C & O conditioning are involved in acquiring and maintaining phobias, some aspects require further explaining.
2. Bounton points out that evolutionary factors probably have an important role in phobias, 2 process model doesn’t mention it.
3. We easily acquire phobias of things that have been a source of danger in our evolutionary past, snakes and the dark.
4. Seligman called this biological preparedness, innate predisposition to acquire certain fears.
5. However, it is much more rare to develop a fear of cars, a greater risk, only existed recently, not biologically prepared to learn fear responses. More to acquiring phobias than simple conditioning.