The behavioural approach to phobias evaluation

Strength: the two-process model has practical application to therapy

• The model was a step forward when it was proposed in 1960
• It explained how phobias could be maintained over time and this had important implications for therapies because it explains why patients need to be exposed to the feared stimulus

Weakness: not all avoidance behaviour associated with phobias seems to be the result of anxiety reduction

• There is evidence to suggest that at least some avoidance behaviour appears to be motivated by positive feelings of safety
• This is a problem for the two-process model, which suggests that avoidance is motivated by anxiety reduction

Weakness: there is evidence that evolutionary…