Download Behavioural explanation

Behavioural explanation for the acquisition of
phobias
4.1.4 Psychopathology:
The behavioural approach to explaining phobias:
the two-process model, including classical and
operant conditioning
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Learning outcomes: by the end of the session you will:
Identify the key components of conditioning
Apply the concepts to scenarios
Describe the conditioning process of Little Albert
Describe the two process model as an explanation for phobias
Consider some evaluation points to this explanation
What is the Behaviourist Approach?
RECAP! Key words on paper…
• Founded by JB Watson in 1915, the behaviourist approach
studies observed behavioural responses of humans and
animals.
• The behaviourist approach believes we learn to behave in
response to our environment, either by stimulus-response
association, or as a result of reinforcement.
• Important contributors to the behaviourist approach are
Ivan Pavlov, with his theory of classical conditioning, and
B.F. Skinner, and his work into operant conditioning.
Ivan Pavlov
1849 - 1939
B.F. Skinner
1904 - 1990
Conditioning
• Conditioning refers to a process of shaping or
changing a behaviour
• The two most common behavioural explanations for
the acquisition of phobias are classical conditioning
and operant conditioning
Learning through…..
Learning through…..
Classical conditioning
A basic form of learning in which a neutral stimulus is
repeatedly paired with another stimulus known as the
unconditioned response. The neutral stimulus becomes
associated with the conditioned stimulus and elicits the same
response.
‘Little Albert’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hBfnXACsOI&feature=player_detailpage#t=2
‘Little Albert’ – place the words
Rat
No fear of rats
Loud bang
Rat
Rat
Fear/anxiety
Loud bang
Fear/anxiety
Fear/anxiety
Little Albert and conditioning a fear
• Neutral stimulus (NS)  no fear of rats (before
conditioning)
• A loud bang (UCS)  causes fear and anxiety (UCR)
(before conditioning)
• rat (CS) and loud bang (UCS)  fear (UCR) (during
conditioning)
• rat (CS)  fear (CR) (evidence of conditioning)
Operant conditioning
Positive reinforcement
Operant conditioning = changing
a behaviour because of a reward
Negative reinforcement
or for avoidance
• Once a fear is established, the
individual then avoids the
object or situation that
produces the fear
• This in turn reduces the anxiety
• It also strengthens the fear and
makes it more likely that this
object/situation will be avoided
in the future.
The two-process model
• In his two-process model of phobia
acquisition, Mowrer (1960) suggests
that phobias are acquired as a result
of classical conditioning and
maintained by operant
conditioning.
• A person who is terrified of spiders is
likely to run away when they see one.
• The escape and consequent
reduction of fear acts as a negative
reinforcer, increasing the likelihood
that they will continue to avoid
spiders in future.
The two-process model
• In this way, the phobia is maintained. When an
individual avoids a situation which is unpleasant,
the behaviour results in a pleasant consequence
which means the behaviour is likely to be repeated.
• Mowrer (1960) suggested that whenever we avoid
a phobic stimulus we successfully escape the fear
and anxiety that we would have suffered if we had
entered its presence or remained there.
• This reduction in fear reinforces the avoidance
behaviour and so the phobia is maintained.
Complete the
activities on the
hand out to
demonstrate
your
understanding
of conditioning
For each scenario identify the process of
Classical conditioning
Scenario 1
Harry has a phobia of swans.
As a child he was bitten by a
swan whilst feeding it bread.
Harry feels anxious when he
thinks about swans and
becomes very afraid whenever
he sees one close up. He now
avoids swans.
Scenario 2
Sarah suffers from
agoraphobia. She is a keen A
level student but is struggling to
attend college because of the
anxiety she suffers when
attempting to leave the house
in the morning. Her phobia
began shortly after being
mugged.
Scenario 3
As a child Rick used to visit
the dentist for painful dental
treatment, the dentist had a
big grandfather clock in the
waiting room. To this day
whenever he hears the tick
of a grandfather clock he
starts to feel anxious.
Evaluation….how do we evaluate a theory /
explanation?
• Is there an alternative explanation to learning
phobias?
• Has everyone with a phobia had a traumatic/bad
experience?
• Why are the most common phobias those of
snakes/spiders/heights/water?
A phobia is initially acquired through association. However, this
doesn’t explain why individuals continue to feel fearful, nor does it
explain why individuals avoid the feared object.
The two-process model
A - The two-process explanation for phobias can explain the
acquisition and maintenance of phobias which have been associated
with an unpleasant event and can therefore account for some unusual
phobias such as button or zip phobia.
L - It does not, however, account for the fact that some phobias are far
more frequent than others in the general population (despite the fact
that there is no evidence that they have been more frequently
associated with aversive events).
L - It would appear that it only covers certain classes of stimuli (those
dangerous to pre-technical humans, such as snakes and other animals)
are more easily conditioned than others.
L - A good explanatory theory needs to take account of factors such as
evolution and biological preparedness in addition to classical and
operant conditioning –what is this suggesting the explanation is?
What's the term to use here?!
C – is there an alternative theory? Are the cognitive elements? Is this an
alternative explanation?
Could it be that cognitive characteristics of phobias are a bi-product of its
behavioural characteristics?
How could we use the social learning theory?
Could we use a psychodynamic explanations for phobias?
T – how can we test this explanation? Is it something that we can see?
Using your resources, ensure that you have an
evaluation of the Behavioural explanation to phobias
in your notes - pg23 in your packs
There are additional “apply” questions in GHG…
Extension….
Outline and evaluate the behaviourist
approach to explaining phobias (12
marks)
! Plan !