The Behavioural Appriach To Explaining Phobias

Question 1

What did Mowrer suggest

Answer 1

That phobias are acquired through classical conditioning and then maintained through operant conditioning

Question 2

How did Watson and Rayner demonstrate how little Albert associated the fear caused by a loud bang with a white rat

Answer 2

• he was exposed to a white rat ( NS) Producing no response
• when payed with the loud bang (UCS) this produces the UCR of fear
• through several repetitions , Albert made the association between the rat CS and Fear CR

Question 3

How does operant conditioning explain phobias ?

Answer 3

• OC takes place when a behaviour is rewarded or punished
• phobics practice avoidance behaviours , meaning that they avoid the phobic stimulus
• by avoiding the phobic stimulus, they avoid the associated fear
• by avoiding such an unpleasant consequence, the avoidance behaviour is negatively reinforced and likely to be repeated again , hence maintaining the phobia

Question 4

Explain the alternative explanation for the acquisition of phobias

Answer 4

• Seligman suggested that we are more likely to develop phobias towards prepared stimuli
• these are stimuli that would have posed a threat to our evolutionary ancestors such as fire or deep water
• abs so running away from such a stimulus increases the likelihood of survival and so this behaviour has a selective evolutionary advantage
• this explanation can explain why some phobias are much more frequent than others