Phobias: behavioural explanation

Question 1

Who suggested the two process model?

Answer 1

Mowrer (1960)

Question 2

What does Mowrer’s two process model explain?

Answer 2

Phobias are acquired by classical conditioning and maintained by operant conditioning

Question 3

What type of reinforcement ensures the phobia is avoided?

Answer 3

Negative

Question 4

Describe how classical conditioning can acquire a phobia of a dog

Answer 4

We see a dog (NS) and pet it
It bites us (UCS) which creates fear and anxiety (UCR)
Seeing a dog (CS) in the future induces fear and anxiety (CR)

Question 5

Describe how operant conditioning maintains a phobia of a dog

Answer 5

Strong fear of dogs encourages us to avoid them. We’re rewarded because we have no dogs in our life. Avoidance strengthens fear.

Question 6

Evaluate the behavioural explanation of phobias: diathesis stress model

Answer 6

Diathesis stress model explains that some people have a genetic vulnerability to developing mental disorders which will be triggered by a stressor or life event.

This challenges the stimulus-response of the two process model by introducing a biological cause

Question 7

Evaluate the behavioural explanation of phobias: little Albert

Answer 7

Watson and rayner (1920) demonstrated classical conditioning in little Albert who was conditioned to fear white rats.

COUNTER: case study, generalisability

Question 8

Evaluate the behavioural explanation of phobias: real life application

Answer 8

Real life application in the development of therapy (exposure therapy and systematic desensitisation).
These help clients unlearn their phobias through counter conditioning or by stopping negative reinforcements. Both are effective forms of treatment.