Behavioural approach explaining phobias
- Created by: sadiemay
- Created on: 22-05-18 18:45
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- behaviour approach explaining phobias
- The two process model ( Classical conditioning )
- Mowrer argued that phobias are learned by classical conditioning and then maintained by operant conditioning
- Classical conditioning involves association this is shown by the Little Alberts by Watson and Raynor where they conditioned him to be have a phobia of rats
- Whenever Abert played with a white rat (NS). A loud noise was made close to his ear. The noise (UCS) caused a fear response (UCR)
- The rat (NS) did not create fear until the bang and the rat had assosicated together.
- Albert showed a fear response (CR) every time he came into contact with the rat now (CS)
- The rat (NS) did not create fear until the bang and the rat had assosicated together.
- Generalisation of fear to other stimuli, for example little albert showed a fear towards white furry objects such as a santa clause mask
- Operant conditioning
- Phobias are maintained through operant conditioning and negative reinforcement.
- Negative reinforcement is when an individual produces behaviour to avoid something unpleasant
- When a phobic avoids a phobic stimulus they escape that anxiety they would have experienced.
- Alternative explanations for avoidance behaviour
- In more complex behaviours like agoraphobia theres evidence that at least some avoidance behaviour is motivated by positive feelings of safety
- explains why agoraphobics leave the house with a trusted friend
- This is a problem for the two process model which suggests its due to reducing anxiety
- explains why agoraphobics leave the house with a trusted friend
- In more complex behaviours like agoraphobia theres evidence that at least some avoidance behaviour is motivated by positive feelings of safety
- Not all bad behaviours lead to phobias
- most people who have a bad experience such as getting bite by a dog then don't go on to develop a phobia
- Suggesting that conditioning alone cannot explain phobias there may be other factors
- most people who have a bad experience such as getting bite by a dog then don't go on to develop a phobia
- The two process model dosent properly consider cognitive aspects.
- As the behaviour approach focuses on the behaviour aspects of phobia it ignore the cognitive aspects
- as in phobias there cognitive elements such as irrational thoughts , the two process model fails to address this
- As the behaviour approach focuses on the behaviour aspects of phobia it ignore the cognitive aspects
- The two process model ( Classical conditioning )
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