Explanations and treatments Phobias

Outline the main assumptions of the behaviourist approach?

Conditioning CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATION 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….. CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATION

‘Little Albert’ 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

Task: Use classical conditioning to show how people acquire a phobia

Positive reinforcement Negative reinforcement Operant conditioning Positive reinforcement Operant conditioning = changing a behaviour because of a reward 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. Negative reinforcement

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.

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 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? Alternatively cognitive aspects may not require learning at all. We may be 'hard-wired' to focus our attention on anything that provokes anxiety. That would be quite sensible actually as most things that cause us anxiety are actually dangerous SLT = A child might see a parent react fearfully to something, avoid it and so reduce their anxiety. As their parent (particularly the same-sex parent) is a good model, a child may imitate this behaviour. They are likely to be reinforced for this avoidance, both by direct reinforcement following their own anxiety reduction and vicariously from seeing the parent's anxiety reduced. In psychodynamic theory, displacement occurs when we redirect an emotion from one person, object or situation to another. It is possible that sometimes a phobia can be the result of a displaced anxiety on to something easier to deal with. Fear of zombies may for example be a displaced fear of death following the death of a loved-one.

Extension…. Outline and evaluate the behaviourist approach to explaining phobias (12 marks) ! Plan !

Phobia: treatments SD and flooding

Phobia’s treatments Task: Use the following terms to outline Systematic Desensitisation Classical Conditioning Reciprocal Inhibition Counterbalancing Exposed Anxiety reduction Hierarchy

Must include key points SD aims to replace a faulty association between CS and CR that has resulted in a phobic response   gradually using systematic desensitisation – relaxation technique, anxiety hierarchy, exposure stages, imagined and or real/in vivo Flooding no relaxation, intensive exposure in vivo or in vitro

How to evaluate treatments Effectiveness -look at research studies that show us how successful the treatment has been Appropriateness how long does it take? (timescale) Side effects? Suitable for all sufferers? Comparison with other treatments

Debate Thomas does not want to go to a friend’s birthday party as his friend is having an outdoor circus party and there will be a clown there. Thomas is really afraid of clowns. His mother and father are discussing how they can help him overcome his phobia so he can go to this party and potentially other parties too. His dad says ‘I think I will take him to the party and sit with him in the car outside until he calms down. Then we could go and sit in the living room of the house and watch the clown do his tricks with the other children through the window. Maybe then he might be able to go outside and join the party’. His mum replies ‘I really think the only way he will overcome this fear is for us to just make him go to the party and meet the clown’ Discuss two behavioural treatments for phobias. Refer to the conversation above in your answer. [16 marks]