Behavioural Explanations of Phobias (OCR A-Level Psychology): Revision Notes
4.2.2 Behavioural Explanations of Phobias
Mowrer (1947) suggested that phobias are acquired directly through classical conditioning (learning through association) and then maintained through operant conditioning as it is reinforced (learning through consequences). They are both combined in the two process model
Watson and Rayner (1920) demonstrated this through how Little Albert associated the fear caused by a loud bang with a white rat.
White rat = No response
(Neutral stimulus = Neutral response)
Loud noise = Fear
(Unconditioned stimulus = Unconditioned response)
White rat + Loud noise = Fear
(Neutral stimulus + Unconditioned stimulus = Unconditioned response)
White rat = Fear
(Conditioned stimulus = Conditioned response)
Through several repetitions, Albert made the association between the rat (CS) and fear (CR).
This conditioning then generalised* to other objects e.g. white fluffy Santa Claus hats.
Operant conditioning takes place when a behaviour is rewarded (through positive or negative reinforcement) or punished.
Phobias practice avoidance behaviours, meaning that they avoid the phobic stimulus. By avoiding this phobic stimulus, they avoid the associated fear. By avoiding such an unpleasant consequence, the avoidance behaviour is negatively reinforced and likely to be repeated again, therefore maintaining the phobia.
Generalisation* = When a conditioned response is produced to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus
Strengths
P: There is empirical research support to show how classical conditioning leads to the development of phobias.
E: For instance, Watson and Rayner (1920) used classical conditioning to create a phobia in an infant called Little Albert. Albert developed a phobia of a white rat when he learned to associate the rat with a loud noise.
E: Therefore, this supports the idea that classical conditioning is involved in acquiring phobias as it demonstrates that a phobia can be learned through association.
P: The behaviourist explanation has provided useful application in the form of flooding and systematic desensitisation.
E: Systematic desensitisation helps people to unlearn their phobias and Flooding prevents people from avoiding them, stopping negative reinforcement from taking place.
E: These therapies have been successfully used to treat people with phobias, providing additional support to the behaviourist explanation
Weaknesses
P: The behaviourist explanation has been criticised for being reductionist and overly simplistic.
E: The behaviourist explanation ignores the role of cognitive processes such as thinking in the formation of phobias. Cognitive psychologists would suggest that phobias may develop as a result of irrational thinking, not just learning.
E: Therefore, the behaviourist explanation may not fully explain the formation of phobias, and it could be argued that cognitive behavioural therapy has been more successful than the behaviourist treatments
P: The research support conducted by Watson and Rayner contained an unrepresentative sample
E: As Little Albert is only one person, he does not reflect the whole population and the findings of the study may not be applicable to how other people in society learn phobias
E: Therefore, the research support is ungeneralisable