6. explaining phobias

what approach explains phobias

behavioural approach - explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning

what is used to explain it

the two process model

• proposed by mowrer 1960

• states phobias are aquired by classical conditioning and are maintained by operant conditioning

aquisition by classical conditioning

• involved learning to associate something we initially have no fear of (NS) with something that already triggers a fear response (UCS)

example

watson & rayner created a phobia in a 9 month baby called ‘little albert’

three stages

1. before the experiment

2. during the experiment

3. after conditioning

before experiment

• NS - a white rat that albert was not scared of

• UCS - a loud noise which albert naturally got scared by

  (the unconditioned response UCR which is fear)

during the experiment

• the rat (NS) was paired with the loud noise (UCS) which happened several times

after conditioning

• CS - the white rat (gone from neutral to conditioned)

• CR - albert became scared when he saw the rat even without the loud noise

he also got scared of other white fluffy things like a rabbit or fur coat

maintenance by operant conditioning

mowrer explained that phobias are often long lasting due to operant conditioning, as most responses acquired by classical conditioning usually tend to decline over time

how does it work

• occurs when our behaviour is reinforced or punished, where reinforcement tends to increase the frequency of a behaviour (true in both cases of negative & positive reinforcement)

• eg negative reinforcement - an individual avoids a situation that is unpleasant which results in a desirable consequence meaning the behaviour will be repeated

• this reduction in fear reinforced the avoidance behaviour and so the phobia is maintained

evaluation

1. real world application

2. phobias and traumatic experiences (& counterpoint)

3. not universal

real world application

• two process model has practical applications in treating phobias

• exposure therapy (eg systematic desensitisation) is based on the idea that avoiding a phobic stimulus maintains fear, while exposure reduces it - avoidance is reinforced by anxiety reduction but exposure prevents this reinforcement and leads to the extinction of fear

• supports the model by showing it provides an effective treatment

phobias and traumatic experiences

• evidence supports a link between traumatic experiences and phobias

• eg little albert, another study found 73% of dental phobia sufferers had experienced a traumatic event related to dentistry, compared to only 21% in a control group with low anxiety - suggests phobias can develop due to traumatic events, aligning with behavioural explanations of classical conditioning

• strengthens model by providing real world evidence of conditioned fear responses

counterpoint

• not all phobias result from trauma

• some phobias eg snake phobias occur even in people who have never had a traumatic encounter with snakes - if phobias were solely due to traumatic experiences, we would expect them only to arise following negative events. the fact some develop without trauma suggests other factors are involved

• SELIGMAN’s biological preparedness explanation suggests we may be predisposed to develop certain phobias due to genetic factors 

• weakens behavioural explanation and indicates the need for alternative theories such as evolutionary explanations

not universal

• cannot explain why people may have continuous aversive experiences yet dont develop a phobia

• ie someone who was bitten by a dog as a child who does not develop cynophobia