Behaviorist explanation of phobias

The two process model of phobias involves..

• Classical conditioning only

• Classical conditioning = how phobias are acquired

  Operant = how they are maintained

• Operant conditioning = how phobias are acquired

  Classical = how they are maintained

• Operant conditioning only

The phobic individual gets attention for their phobic reaction, this means they repeat the behaviour

• Negative reinforcement

• positive reinforcement

• punishment

Whenever we try to face our fear and we feel anxious and scared, this acts as...

• Negative reinforcement

• Punishment

Before conditioning the rat in the Little Albert study was the...

• NS

• UCS

• CS

• UCR

Phobias may be evolutionary not learnt, why is this a weakness of the theory?

• It is reductionist, it only considers learning not biology

• It is deterministic

• It cannot explain why Little Albert was scared of the white rat

• It is holistic

Why is the two process model useful?

• Because it can explain why people develop phobias

• Because it has helped develop therapies for phobias

• Because it can be applied to Little Albert

Why is this theory less socially sensitive than cognitive / biological explanations?

• Because it blames the individual

• Because it states that the phobia is learned, it is not their fault.

• Because it says that the phobia is caused by irrational thinking

• Because it says the phobia is genetic

Some people have phobias despite never having an unpleasant encounter with the stimulus... why is this a weakness?

• It is deterministic

• It is not a whole explanation, therefore lacks validity

• It is not a whole explanation is it is unreliable

• It is holistic as it is somplistic

Max is scared of heights because he associates them with falling. What is the UCS?

• Heights

• Falling

• Fear

By avoiding the phobic stimulus, the individual is removing themselves from an unpleasant situation. They feel relief, so continue to avoid the stimulus.

• Positive reinforcment

• Negative reinforcement

• Punishment