explaining phobias: behavioural approach Flashcards
(25 cards)
What does the behavioural approach emphasize in the acquisition of behaviour?
the role of learning
What are the two key processes in the two-process model of phobia acquisition?
Classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
Who proposed the two-process model?
Mowrer
What is classical conditioning?
Learning to associate something we initially have no fear of (neutral stimulus) with something that triggers a fear response (conditioned stimulus).
What is a neutral stimulus?
Something we initially have no fear of.
What is a conditioned stimulus?
A stimulus that already triggers a fear response.
Who conducted the famous experiment with ‘Little Albert’?
Watson and Rayner
What happened to Little Albert in the experiment?
He developed a phobia of a white rat after it was repeatedly paired with a loud, frightening noise
What is an unconditioned stimulus (UCS)?
A stimulus that naturally creates an unconditioned response (UCR).
What is an unconditioned response (UCR)?
A natural response to an unconditioned stimulus.
What is a conditioned response (CR)?
A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus.
How did Little Albert demonstrate generalisation?
He showed fear to other furry objects, not just the white rat.
What is operant conditioning?
A process where behaviour is reinforced (rewarded) or punished, affecting likelihood of the behaviour being repeated.
How does operant conditioning maintain phobias?
Avoidance of the phobic stimulus is negatively reinforced by the reduction in fear.
What is negative reinforcement?
The removal of an unpleasant consequence increases the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated.
What is one real-world application of the two-process model?
It is used in exposure therapies such as systematic desensitisation.
Why is avoidance behaviour important in phobias?
Avoidance prevents anxiety reduction and maintains the phobia.
What is a limitation of the two-process model regarding cognition?
It does not account for the cognitive aspects of phobias.
What are cognitive aspects of phobias?
Phobias often involve irrational beliefs about the phobic stimulus, not just avoidance.
What evidence links phobias and traumatic experiences?
Studies show a frightening experience with a stimulus can lead to a phobia of that stimulus.
What did one researcher find about dental phobia?
73% of people with dental phobia had experienced a traumatic event, usually involving dentistry.
What is a counterpoint to the trauma explanation for phobias?
Not all phobias are linked to bad experiences; some people develop phobias without a traumatic event.
What is exposure therapy?
A treatment that involves exposing people to their phobic stimulus to reduce avoidance and anxiety.
How does the two-process model explain the maintenance of phobias?
By avoidance behaviour being negatively reinforced.
