The behavioural appraoch to explaining phobias

Question 1

Define Behavioural approach

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What is Classical conditioning (3)

Answer 2

• Learning by association.
  -Occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired together - an unconditioned (unlearned) stimulus (UCS) and a new
  ‘neutral’ stimulus (NS).
  -The neutral stimulus eventually produces the same response that was first produced by the unlearned stimulus alone.

Question 3

Define Operant conditioning

Answer 3

• A form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences.
• Possible consequences of behaviour include positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement or punishment.

Question 4

Who proposed the two process model and What is the two process model (2)

Answer 4

• Mowrer (1960) proposed the two-process model based on the behavioural approach to phobias.
• This states that phobias are acquired (learned in the first place) by classical conditioning and then continue because of operant conditioning. (maintained)

Question 5

How was Classical conditioning used to create a phobia in Little albert (8)

Answer 5

• Watson and Rayner (1920) created a phobia in a 9-month-old baby called ‘Little Albert’.
• Albert showed no unusual anxiety at the start of the study.
• When shown a white rat he tried to play with it.
• However, the experimenters then set out to give Albert a phobia.
• Whenever the rat was presented they made a loud, frightening noise by banging an iron bar close to Albert’s ear.
• This noise is an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) which creates an unconditioned response (UCR) of fear.
• When the rat (a neutral stimulus, NS) and the unconditioned stimulus are encountered close together in time the NS becomes associated with the UCS and both now produce the fear response - Albert became frightened when he saw a rat.
• The rat is now a conditioned stimulus (CS) that produces a conditioned response (CR).

Question 6

Consequence of Little albert phobia (3)

Answer 6

• This conditioning then generalised to similar objects.
• They tested Albert by showing him other furry objects such as a non-white rabbit, a fur coat and Watson wearing a Santa Claus beard made out of cotton balls.
• Little Albert displayed distress at the sight of all of these.

Question 7

Operant conditioning

Answer 7

• Operant conditioning takes place when our behaviour is reinforced (rewarded) or punished.
• Reinforcement tends to increase the frequency of a behaviour. This is true of both negative reinforcement and positive reinforcement.
• In the case of negative reinforcement an individual avoids a situation that is unpleasant. Such a behaviour results in a desirable consequence, which means the behaviour will be repeated.

Question 8

Explain how operant conditioning can be used to maintain phobias (2)

Answer 8

• 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.
• This reduction in fear reinforces the avoidance behaviour and so the phobia is maintained.

Question 9

Pros of two process model (Step forward for its time + RLA) -4- Good explanatory power

Answer 9

• One strength of the two-process model is that it was a definite step forward when it was proposed in 1960 as it went beyond Watson and Rayner’s concept of classical conditioning and there are real life applications.
• It explained how phobias could be maintained over time and this had important implications for therapies because it explains why patients need to be exposed to the feared stimulus.
• Once a patient is prevented from avoiding the phobia the behaviour ceases to be reinforced and so it declines.
• The application to therapy is a strength of the two-process model

Question 10

Limitation to the Two process model / incomplete explanation of phobias (biological approach) (5)

Answer 10

• One limitation of the two process model is that Even if we accept that classical and operant conditioning are involved in the development and maintenance of phobias, there are some aspects of phobic behaviour that require further explaining.
• Bounton (2007) points out that evolutionary factors probably have an important role in phobias but the two-factor theory does not mention this.
• For example, we easily acquire phobias of things that have been a source of danger in our past, such as fears of snakes or of the dark. It is adaptive to acquire such fears.
• Seligman (1971) called this biological preparedness – the innate predisposition to acquire certain fears.
• This phenomenon of preparedness is a serious problem for the two-factor theory because it shows there is more to acquiring phobias than simple conditioning.

Question 11

Alternative explanation for avoidance behaviour (5)

Answer 11

• One limitation is that Not all avoidance behaviour associated with phobias seem to be the result of anxiety reduction, at least in more complex phobias like agoraphobia.
• There is evidence to suggest that some avoidance behaviour appears to be motivated by positive feelings of safety.
• In other words the motivating factor in choosing an action like not leaving the house is not so much to avoid the phobic stimulus but to stick with the safety factor.
• This explains why some patients with agoraphobia are able to leave their house with a trusted person with relatively little anxiety but not alone (Buck, 2010).
• This is a problem for the two-process model, which suggests that avoidance is motivated by anxiety reduction.

Question 12

Evals

Answer 12

L- Alternative explanation for avoidance behaviour
L- incomplete explanation of phobias
S-Good explanatory power