Explaining phobias- behavioural

Question 1

Mowrer- Two process model

Answer 1

1. CLASSICAL CON: initiation
   - phobia acquired through association between NS & UCS to produce a UCR.
   - After many pairings, the NS becomes CS as it results in CR
2. OPERANT COND: maintenance
   - explains the likelihood of behaviour being repeated is increased if the outcome is rewarding.
   - the avoidance of the phobic stimulus reduces the fear and is thus negatively reinforcing

Question 2

Diathesis- stress model

Answer 2

• we may inherit a genetic vulnerability for developing phobia which is manifested when triggered by an environmental stresser
• sophisticated interactionist explanation by a holistic approach

Question 3

nature vs nurture

Answer 3

• focuses more on NURTURE; experiences shape our phobic development = environmentally deterministic
• ignores NATURE
• not always developed from a traumatic incident, but may be explained in terms of bio preparedness.
• SELIGMAN: were genetically programmed to rapidly learn an association between potentially life-threatening stimuli and fear which would’ve been dangerous in our evolutionary past
• thus would’ve been adaptive to rapidly learn to avoid such stimuli.
• biological preparedness explains why ppl are less likely to develop fears of modern objects such as toasters than spiders as they weren’t a danger in our evolutionary past

Question 4

the two process model ignores cognitive factors

Answer 4

• there are cognitive aspects to phobias that cannot be explained in traditional behaviourist framework
• cognitive approach proposes that phobias may develop as a consequence of irrational thinking
• this creates extreme anxiety and may trigger a phobia
• value of this alternative explanation is that it leads to cognitive therapies eg CBT
• come situations more successful than behaviourist treatments
• rates of efficacy is high

Question 5

heavily supported by evidence

Answer 5

LITTLE ALBERT WATSON N RAYNOR

• presented little Albert with a white rat and he showed no fear
• presented the rat with a loud bang= startled Albert and made him cry
• after continuous association of rat and loud noise, he was classically condition to experience fear at the sight of the rat
• his fear generalised to other stimuli that were similar to the rat eg fur coat