The Behaviourist Approach to Explaining Phobias

Question 1

Briefly outline the behaviourist explanation of phobias

Answer 1

‘Two-process model’
Phobias are initially acquired through classical conditioning (learning through association)
And maintained through operant conditioning (learning through consequences)

Question 2

Outline how phobias are learnt/acquired

Answer 2

Classical conditioning

Before conditioning:
UCS (injection) elicits UCR (fear)

During conditioning:
NS (dentist) is paired with UCS (injection) which elicits UCR (fear)

After conditioning:
CS (dentist) elicits CR (fear)

Question 3

Outline the Little Albert study

Answer 3

Researchers: Watson and Raynor

Aim: To investigate whether phobias are learnt through classical conditioning.

Method: Lab experiment, single participant - Little Albert, a 9-month-old baby

Procedure: Presented a white rat = showed no fear. Presented the rat with a loud bang = startled Little Albert and made him cry. Watson continued this behaviour until an association was formed.

Results: After multiple pairings of the white rat and loud noise, Little Albert was classically conditioned to experience fear at the sight of the rat - a phobia had been taught. Albert’s fear generalised to other stimuli similar to the rat (fur coat, cotton wool, Father Christmas mask.)

Conclusion: Phobias can be learnt through classical conditioning. This study supports the behaviourist explanation of phobias.

Question 4

Outline how phobias are maintained

Answer 4

Operant conditioning

Avoidance behaviour: individual leaves situations where they may be exposed to their phobic stimulus.
This acts as negative reinforcement (unpleasant feeling of fear experienced by the phobia is taken away which encourages the phobia to continue and be maintained.)

Question 5

Outline a strength of the behaviourist explanation to phobias

Answer 5

Supporting evidence: Watson & Rayner’s research
P: Empirical research supports the behaviourist explanation of phobias.
Ev: Watson and Rayner conducted ‘Little Albert study’. They presented a white rat (NS) to an infant which elicited no response. However when they paired the white rat with a loud bang in little Albert’s ear (UCS), it made little Albert scared (UCR) and he began to associate not only the white rat (CS), but also similar objects such as rabbits with the loud bang, which would make him scared (CR).
Ex: Suggests phobias can be learnt and acquired through classical conditioning because Little Albert became scared of the white rat (and similar objects) via the association of something that scared him.
L: Increases the validity of the two-process model as an explanation of phobias.

Question 6

Outline two/three limitations of the behaviourist explanation to phobias

Answer 6

Incomplete explanation: Ignores biological factors
P: Cannot explain why some individuals have certain phobias.
Ev: Bounton argues that evolutionary factors play an important role because we easily acquire phobias of things that have been a source of danger in our evolutionary past, such as fears of snakes or of the dark.
Seligman called this biological preparedness (the innate predisposition to acquire certain fears.) It is quite rare to develop a phobia of cars or electrocution, which are actually more dangerous to most of us today than spiders or snakes.
Ex: Can explain why people have phobias of heights or the dark even if we have never encountered them before - evolution suggests that it is adaptive to acquire such fears because our ancestors avoided these things in the past in order to survive.
L: Such insights suggest that there is more to acquiring phobias than simple conditioning.

Reductionist: Ignores cognitive factors
P: Ignores the role of cognitive factors when acquiring a phobia.
Ev: Cognitive approach says phobias may develop due to irrational thinking. A person may have a fear of getting stuck in an elevator. A rational thought would be to press the help button and the problem will be resolved, however an irrational thought would be that they will run out of air and die in the elevator, which creates extreme anxiety and may trigger a phobia.
Ex: Such cognitive factors may be involved in the development of phobias and form the basis of alternative phobia treatments such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).
L: Behaviourist explanation is incomplete as it only focuses on the influence of nurture through a traditional behaviourist approach framework.

Alternative explanation: Social Learning Theory
P: Better explanation for the development of phobias.
Ev: Bandura and Rosenthal = experiment = a role model acted as if he was in pain every time a buzzer sounded. The participants who observed this showed an emotional reaction to the buzzer = acquired ‘fear’ response by observing someone else show a reaction to the buzzer.
Ex: Suggests that certain fear responses and phobias can be developed due to observational learning rather than classical conditioning.
L: Behaviourist explanation may not be able to explain the development of all phobias and the Social Learning Theory may be a more valid alternative explanation.