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The behavioural approach to explaining phobias - Coggle Diagram
The behavioural approach to explaining phobias
assumptions
all behabiour can be learnt an unlearnt
We are born as 'blank slates' all our behaviour is learnt from our enivronment
adapative behaviour helps us surive and be happy
maladaptive behaviour is undesirable like phobias
two-process model
acquisition by classical conditioning
when something we don't fear (neutral stimulus) is paired with something that triggers fear (unconditioned stimulus) we are conditioned to fear the stimulus which becomes a phobia
Little albert was not afraid of rats (NS) at first but when it was repeatedly paired with the loud noise (UCS) he learned to associate loud noises with rats and now had a phobia of rats (CS)
maintenance by operant conditioning
Phobias are maintaned because avoidance behaviour is rewarded with escaping fear and anxiety (negaitive reinforcement) so they continue to avoid the phobia so their phobia is maintained
strengths
Has good pracitcal applications (therapy), as it helps understand how behaviour is learnt and can be learnt, it is effective in reliving symptoms, and therefore benefits society
weaknesses
Avoidance behaviour is not always because of anxiety but positive feelings of saftey
e.g agoraphobics won't leave home alone but might leave with a trusted friend due to the feeling of saftey with friend
The Diathesis stress model suggests phobia is from a mix of genetic and enivronmental factors not just enivronmental
This explains why not everyone who has been bitten by a dog will get a phobia of dogs
Nature vs Nuture, neglects nature (biological and evolutionary factors)for phobias
e.g Bounton fear of snakes for survival (innate predispostion) not from simple conditioning
Very reductionist, ignores biological and cognitive factors and reduces complex human behaviour
e.g some people develop phobias of things they have never had contact with