the behaviourist approach to phobias

two-process model

that behaviours like phobias are learnt through experience.

describes how phobias are acquired and maintained

acquisition

classical conditioning suggest the phobic object changes from being a neutral stimulus with no fear response to a conditioned stimulus with a fear response by being presented at the same time as unconditioned stimulus that naturally causes a fear response forming an association.

maintenance

operant conditioning suggests avoidance behaviour leads to a reduction in anxiety, which is a pleasant sensation. this negative reinforcement strengthens the phobic response.

generalisation

generalisation a conditioned fear response is also experienced in the presence of stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus

evaluations - strengths

• Watson and Rayner - Watson paired showing a rat with hitting a large metal pole behind a child’s head (little albert) creating a loud noise and scaring the child. a phobic response formed, demonstrating phobias can be acquired through association.

• behaviourist theories of phobias have been practically applied to counter-conditioning therapies, systematic desensitisation and flooding. as these treatments are effective, this suggests the behaviourist principles they are based on are valid.

evaluation - weaknesses

• DiNardo - showed while conditioning events like ‘dog bites; were common in participants with dog phobias they were just as common in participants with no dog phobia.

• humans also don’t often display phobias responses to objects that cause the most pain in day-to-day life, such as knives or cars. however, phobias of snakes and spiders are more common. these phobias may be better explained by evolutionary theory.