the behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Question 1

the two-process model - basis

Answer 1

• behavioural approach emphasises role of learning in acquisition of behaviour
• Mowrer proposed the two-process model based on behavioural approach to phobias, states that phobias are acquired by classical conditioning and then continue because of operant conditioning

Question 2

the two-process model - acquisition by classical conditioning

Answer 2

• learning to associate something of which we originally have no fear (neutral stimulus) with something that already triggers a fear response (unconditioned stimulus)
• Watson and Rayner created phobia in 9 month old baby (Little Albert)
• he showed no unusual anxiety at the start of the study and when shown a white rat he tried to play with it
• the researchers then made a loud, frightening noise whenever the rat was presented (UCS), creating an unconditioned response of fear
• the neutral stimulus becomes associated with the unconditioned stimulus and they now both produce the fear response
• this was generalised to similar objects, such as a rabbit, fur coat and santa claus beard, and Little Albert displayed distress for all of these

Question 3

the two-process model - maintenance by operant conditioning

Answer 3

• responses acquired by classical conditioning usually decline over time, but phobias are often long lasting
• Mowrer explained this as the result of operant conditioning
• takes place when behaviour is reinforced or punished, reinforcement tends to increase the frequency of a behaviour
• in the case of negative reinforcement, an individual avoids a situation that is unpleasant, resulting in a desirable consequence
• Mowrer suggested that when we avoid a phobic stimulus we escape the fear and anxiety that would’ve been experienced if we remained there, so the phobia is maintained
• positive reinforcement, people will help you to avoid your phobic stimulus (eg. parents getting rid of a spider and comforting you)

Question 4

evaluation - real world application

Answer 4

• strength is application in exposure therapies
• distinctive element is the idea that phobias are maintained by a avoidance of the stimulus
• important in explaining why people with phobias benefit from being exposed to the stimulus
• once the avoidance behaviour is prevented, it ceases to be reinforced by the experience of anxiety reduction, so avoidance declines
• phobia is the avoidance behaviour so when the avoidance is prevented, the phobia is cured
• increases value of two-process approach

Question 5

evaluation - cognitive aspects of phobias

Answer 5

• limitation is it does not account for cognitive aspects of phobias
• behavioural explanations are geared towards explaining behaviour, in the case of phobias the key behaviour is avoidance of the phobic stimulus
• however we know that phobias also have a significant cognitive component
• two-process model explains avoidance behaviour but not phobic cognitions
• does not fully explain the symptoms of phobias

Question 6

evaluation - phobias and traumatic experiences

Answer 6

• strength is evidence for a link between bad experiences and phobias
• Little Albert study illustrates how a frightening experience involving a stimulus can lead to a phobia of that stimulus, observed his fear behaviour in a lab setting
• a study by De Jongh found that 73% of people with a fear of dental treatment had experienced a traumatic experience, mostly involving dentistry
• confirms that association between stimulus and unconditioned response does lead to development of a phobia

Question 7

evaluation - counterpoint to phobias and traumatic experiences

Answer 7

• not all phobias appear after a bad experience
• some common phobias such as snake phobias occur in populations where very few people have any experience of snakes
• association between phobias and frightening experiences is not as strong as we would expect, so not a complete explanation