Phobias: Learning theory explanations

Question 1

What are the 2 key areas of the 2-process model of phobias based of learning theories

Answer 1

Explains both…

1. Acquisition of phobias
2. Maintenance of phobias

Question 2

What does the model state

Answer 2

Phobias can be acquired by classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning

Question 3

Acquisition of phobias by classical conditioning:

How can classical conditioning explain the acquisition of phobias

Answer 3

• One stimulus originally creates no fear (NS)
• Another stimulus already creates fear repsonse (UCS)
• Through association NS becomes conditioned stimulus (CS) creating a conditioned response (CR)

Question 4

Maintanence by operant conditioning:

How did mowrer link operant conditioning to phobias

Answer 4

When the behaviour is reinforced, it increases the frenquency of it happening.

• Negative reinforcement is the removal of something unpleasant, like removing anxiety
• If you avoid the phobia, it’ll remove anxiety therefore reinforcing the phobia

Question 5

Maintanence by operant conditioning:

How did Mowrer test negative reinforcement for phobias

Answer 5

Developed an avoidance response in rats

• rats placed in a cage that delivered shocks
• shocks could be avoided by jumping over a barrier
• escape was negatively reinforcing, avoidance response was learned

Question 6

In 1989, what did Cook and Mineka suggest was another mechanism of the acquisition of phobias?

Answer 6

Observational learning

Question 7

Observational learning:

How did Cook and Mineka demonstrate observational learning

Answer 7

Infant rhesus monkeys who watched adult monkeys display fear against toy crocodiles and snakes were more likely to display fear against those same toys

Question 8

What is a strength of learning theories explanation of phobias

Answer 8

It is supported by research evidence

Question 9

Strength of learning theories explanation of phobias:

What research evidence supports this explanation

Answer 9

The ‘Little Albert’ experiment by Watson and Rayner

Question 10

Strength of learning theories explanation of phobias:

Explain how the little albert experiment supports this explanation

Answer 10

Experimentors conditioned a fear response to white rats in little albert. As a result of this he continued to show fear responses to white rats and anything that resembled it.

Question 11

What is a weakness of this explanation

Answer 11

It’s not a complete explanation of the acquisition of phobias

Question 12

Weakness:

Evidence that it isn’t a complete explanation

Answer 12

We acquire phobias from things that have been a source of danger in our evolutionary past, for example a fear or lions or snakes.
- Some people also acquire phobias without conditioned responses or modelling

Question 13

Weakness:

What does this evidence show

Answer 13

shows learning is not a complete explanation of acquisition of phobias

Question 14

What is a strength of the application of learning theories as an explanation of phobias

Answer 14

Good applications to the use of therapies for treating phobias.

Question 15

Strength of application:

Evidence on how therapies can be used

Answer 15

The use of systematic desensitisation and flooding are based on classical conditioning and can be used to treat phobias

Question 16

Strength of application:

How does flooding and systematic desensitisation work

Answer 16

Systematic desensitisation - helps clients learn new responses to the stimulus that enlisits phobias

Flooding - extinction of the fear response