The behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Question 1

What was the two-process model?

Answer 1

Mowrer (1960) proposed the two process model based on the behaviour approach to phobias
It states that phobias are:
1. Acquired (learned in the first place) by classical conditioning
2. And then continue because of operant conditioning

Question 2

Explain the Little Albert experiment

Answer 2

Watson and Rayner (1920) created a phobia in a 9 month old baby “Little Albert”
Albert showed no anxiety at the start of the experiment - he wanted to play with the white rat
In order to cause a phobia, the experimenters made a loud, frightening noise close to Albert’s ears
This conditioning then generalised to similar objects
Other furry objects were used - non white rabbit, a fur coat, Watson wearing a santa beard etc
Little Albert displayed distress at the sight of all of these

Question 3

Explain maintenance by operant conditioning

Answer 3

Responses acquired by classical conditioning tend to reduce over time, however, the majority of phobias are long lasting
Mowrer explained that this was as a result of operant conditioning
Operant conditioning takes place when our behaviour is reinforced (rewarded) or punished
In the case of negative reinforcement, an individual avoids a situation that is unpleasant
When a phobic avoids a phobic stimulus they escape the anxiety and fear that they would have experienced
This reduction in fear reinforces the avoidance behaviour and so the phobia is maintained

Question 4

Give an example of negative reinforcement related to behavioural explaining of phobias

Answer 4

If someone has a fear of clowns they will avoid circuses and other situations where clowns might be present
The relief felt from avoiding clowns negatively reinforces the phobia and ensures it is maintained rather than confronted

Question 5

Give 2 strengths of the two-process model

Answer 5

1. Real world application - One strength is exposure therapies (eg. systematic desensitisation)
   The two process model emphasizes maintaining an avoidance of the phobic stimulus
   This is important in explaining why people with phobias benefit from being exposed to the phobic stimulus
   Once the avoidance behaviour is prevented it stops being reinforced by the experience of anxiety reduction and the avoidance should decline
2. Phobias and traumatic experiences - The Little Albert study shows how a frightening experience involving a stimulus can lead to a phobia of a stimulus
   Psychologists found that 73% of people with a fear of dental treatments had experienced a traumatic experience
   This was compared to a control group of people with a low dental anxiety where only 21% had experienced a traumatic event
   This confirms that the association between a stimulus (dentistry) and an unconditioned response (pain) does lead to the development of a phobia

Question 6

Give 2 limitations of the two-process model

Answer 6

1. Phobia and traumatic experience - Not all phobias appear following a bad experience
   Phobias such as fear of spiders/ snakes come from our evolutionary past
   Also, not all frightening experiences will lead to a phobia
   This means that the association between phobias and frightening experiences is not as strong as we would expect and conditioning alone cannot explain phobias
2. Cognitive aspects of phobias - The two process model does not account for the cognitive aspects of phobias
   It looks at explaining behaviour when encountering phobic stimulus
   However, phobias aren’t always about avoidance, they also have a significant cognitive component
   Some people hold irrational beliefs about the phobic stimulus