Behavioural Approach: Phobias

what does the behavioural approach say that abnormal behaviour is caused by?

1. Classical Conditioning
2. Operant conditioning
3. Social learning theory

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which psychologist talked about this and what did they come up with?

Mowrer opposed a two-process model to explain how phobias are learnt by C.C and associative learning, and maintained by operant conditioning

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what happens in the classical conditioning stage?

the process of learning by associating 2 stimuli together to conditions a response. c.c explains this through the model *have a look back if needed*. this then develops a phobia after a single incident

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what was the study from this and who studied it?

Watson and Rayner investigated if a fear response could be learnt through C.C in humans. the pp included a 11 month child- Little Albert, who showed no response to various objects esp a white rat, to examine if they could elicit a fear response,-

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-they strung a metal bar with a hammer behind L.As head causing a loud noise which scared L.A every time he went to reach for the rat, they did this 3 times. results showed that that LA cried whenever he saw a white rat. LA developed a fear-

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-towards similar objects, including a white sonata clause beard. they found he became scared of white furry objects. exp demonstrated a fear response could be learnt through c.c

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how can it be maintained in operant conditioning?

O.C shows why phobias don't go away over time. phobias are long-term, Mowrer says its also maintained. phobias can be negatively reinforced as behaviour strengthens as an unpleasant consequence is removed ie a person who takes-

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-stairs to avoid the lift due to their phobias, this reduces the persons anxiety and negatively reinforces the behaviour as AVOIDANCE will be repeated.

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name the evaluations of this

+R.S Watson and Rayner shared process if c.c in formation of phobia in LA and c.c is involved in acquiring a phobia in humans (generalisation to other phi stimuli can occur) [-its a case study so its difficult to generalise findings to other children/adul

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+application to therapy, developed treatments ie systematise desensitisation and flooding
-explanation for development of phobias ignores role of cognition, phobias may develop due to irrational thinking, not just learning [+CBT is successful here]

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-not complete explanation Bounton said evolutionary factors could play a role ie avoidance of danger stimuli that could harm is innate, so evolutionary psychologists would see some phobias as survival mechanisms [innate-

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-predisposition= biological preparedness, as stated by Seligman]

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what does treating phobias try to do?

they replace the phobias with principles of c.c to form a new response of the phobia (most likely relaxation).

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what is the first treatment and how does it work?

systematic desensitisation uses c.c to unlearn response from phobia and replace It with relaxation with 3 component.
1.fear hierarchy- client and therapist create a table from worst to most scary of phobia

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2. relaxation training- the client is taught R.T such as breathing tips, muscle strategies, etc
3. Reciprocal inhibition- the client and therapists work through the fear hierarchy while using R.T to reach the top of F.H without producing extreme fear-

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-this is as R.I believes that 2 emotional states cannot exist as the same time so they can produce relaxation instead of fear while introducing them to the phobic stimuli.

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evaluations of S.D

+R.S McGrath et al found 75% of patients w phobias were successfully treated w S.D [particularly true with vivo>vitro techniques]
+R.S Gilroy et al examined 42 patients w arachnophobia, all had 3, 45 min S.D sessions-

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-3 mnths and 33 mnths later, the S.D group were less fearful than control group who only received R.T (long-term effectiveness)
-not effective with all phobias, those who haven't learnt phobia through c.c ie innate phobias

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+S.D is often favoured as it is more ethical, doesn't cause sm distress [w flooding psychological harm and no right to withdraw] (low attrition rates w flooding)

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what is the second treatment and how does it work?

Flooding is a behavioural therapy which exposes individual to anxiety inducing stimulus immediately. the intense exposure is done over an extended period of time in a state/controlled manner. this way, the person cant avoid-

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(negatively reinforce) their fear, so w continuous exposure, the anxiety levels drop gradually. extinction will occur w the fear. exhaustion step in, creating a new positive association to stimulus.

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name the evaluations of this

+cost-effective treatment, just as effective (Ougrin) so funds can be given to other projects
-highly traumatic for patients as it elicits high levels of anxiety, Wolpe recalled a case w a patient that needed hospitalisation due to anxiety levels-

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-[+but patients provide fully informed consent,-but if its too stressful, its a waste of time/money if patients don't complete course]
-less effective for other types of phobias ie social phobias, caused by irrational thinking-

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-not unpleasant experiences, so complex phobias cant be treated, CBT may be better
-symptom substitution, means although 1 phobia removed, another may appear, if symptoms aren't treated +removed, underlying cause may remain-

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-and can resurface. research in this area is mixed tho.
-nomothetic approach
-ignores free will ie not every person bit by dog will develop a fear of dogs

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-reductionist and over simplistic, only a simple stimulus-response association ignores cognition

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Behavioural Approach: Phobias

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