Behavioural Approach to Explaining Phobias

Classical Conditioning →Acquisition

UCS → UCR
NS → No Response
UCS + NS → Association

CS → CR

Operant Conditioning → Maintenance

Behaviour is reinforced/punished. Reinforcement (both negative + positive) → increase in behaviour. NR (avoidance of unpleasant situation) → desirable consequence (reduction of fear) → behaviour repeated

Strength: Exposure Therapy

Usefulness (e.g. Systematic desensitisation): Helps explain why people with phobias benefit from being exposed to phobic stimulus as it prevents avoidance which in turn prevents reinforcement through anxiety reduction, and thus reduces the inclination to avoid the PS. Avoidance prevented → phobia cured.

Limitation: Cognitive Aspects

This explanation explains the behaviour as a result of phobias (avoidance), but not the cognitive component (e.g. holding irrational beliefs about the PS.) Thus it doesn’t completely explain the symptoms of phobias.

Strength: Traumatic Experiences

The Little Albert Study proves that traumatic experiences involving a stimulus can cause a phobia of said stimulus. It is also proven by Ad De Jongh et al who found that 73% people who feared dentists had a traumatic experience involving dentistry or violent crimes, compared to a control group where only 21% had experienced the trauma. Stimulus + UCR = phobia.

Limitation: Trauma Counterpoint

Not all phobias stem from a traumatic experience as many common phobias (e.g. snakes) occur in populations of few snake encounters. Also, not all frightening experiences lead to phobias. Association is not strong.