Phobias
The Behavioural Explanations of Phobias
The Two Process Model (Mowrer, 1960)
1. Classical conditioning – Initiation (how we acquire the phobia)
2. Operant conditioning – Maintenance (how we maintain it)
Classical conditioning – Initiation
Classical conditioning suggests that a phobia is acquired through association (with something we
originally had no fear of + something that already triggers a fear response).
Watson and Rayner (1920) conducted the Little Albert study.
They wanted to demonstrate that emotional responses can be learned through classical
conditioning.
Little Albert was shown a rat (the neutral stimulus) and he showed no response.
A loud noise (the unconditioned stimulus) was made with a hammer which caused an
unconditioned response of fear in Little Albert.
The rat and the loud noise (neutral stimulus + unconditioned stimulus) were paired to produce
the unconditioned response of fear. They were paired three times.
A week later, Little Albert was shown a rat (the conditioned stimulus) and he produced a
conditioned response of fear because he had made an association.
Operant conditioning – Maintenance
Operant conditioning suggests that a phobia can be maintained through reinforcement.
A behaviour is more likely to be repeated if the outcome is rewarding.
Positive reinforcement: when something positive is added to a situation, increasing the
likelihood of a behaviour.
Negative reinforcement: when something aversive is removed from a situation, increasing the
likelihood of a behaviour.
How phobias are maintained through negative reinforcement / how operant conditioning explains
the maintenance of a phobia:
If behaviour is met with something rewarding, it is reinforced. If a person has a phobia, they will
avoid it because it reduces the anxiety and fear they associate with it. This is negative
, reinforcement as it removes the aversive feeling of anxiety, making the person more likely to
repeat this behaviour as it is rewarding. This causes them to maintain their phobia as they will
never face it.
Point Evidence Conclusion
A strength of the two The two process model Therefore, this application
process model is that it has goes beyond the initiation to therapy is a definite
good explanatory power. stage of phobias as it strength of the model as it
states how we acquire covers multiple areas of
phobias through classical mental disorders,
conditioning but also how including both initiation
we maintain them through and maintenance and can
operant conditioning. be utilised in therapy.
It is also useful for therapy
because if we know how
somebody maintains their
phobia, we can help
prevent them from
practising their avoidance
behaviour.
A strength of behavioural Watson and Rayner Therefore, this supports the
explanation is that it is succeeded in conditioning behavioural explanation as
supported by Watson and Little Albert to fear rats it suggests that it is based
Rayner’s research. through the process of on empirical evidence
classical conditioning. He rather than being purely
made Little Albert form an theoretical, demonstrating
association between the that phobias are ‘learnt.’
unconditioned stimulus of
a loud noise which
produced innate fear, and
the neutral stimulus of a
rat. The rat then became a
conditioned stimulus that
produced a conditioned
response of fear.
A limitation of the two While classical and operant Therefore, the two process
process model is that it is conditioning can be said to model could be labelled as
an incomplete play roles in the reductionist as it fails to
explanation of phobias development and consider the fact that
maintenance of phobias, innate fears could have
The Behavioural Explanations of Phobias
The Two Process Model (Mowrer, 1960)
1. Classical conditioning – Initiation (how we acquire the phobia)
2. Operant conditioning – Maintenance (how we maintain it)
Classical conditioning – Initiation
Classical conditioning suggests that a phobia is acquired through association (with something we
originally had no fear of + something that already triggers a fear response).
Watson and Rayner (1920) conducted the Little Albert study.
They wanted to demonstrate that emotional responses can be learned through classical
conditioning.
Little Albert was shown a rat (the neutral stimulus) and he showed no response.
A loud noise (the unconditioned stimulus) was made with a hammer which caused an
unconditioned response of fear in Little Albert.
The rat and the loud noise (neutral stimulus + unconditioned stimulus) were paired to produce
the unconditioned response of fear. They were paired three times.
A week later, Little Albert was shown a rat (the conditioned stimulus) and he produced a
conditioned response of fear because he had made an association.
Operant conditioning – Maintenance
Operant conditioning suggests that a phobia can be maintained through reinforcement.
A behaviour is more likely to be repeated if the outcome is rewarding.
Positive reinforcement: when something positive is added to a situation, increasing the
likelihood of a behaviour.
Negative reinforcement: when something aversive is removed from a situation, increasing the
likelihood of a behaviour.
How phobias are maintained through negative reinforcement / how operant conditioning explains
the maintenance of a phobia:
If behaviour is met with something rewarding, it is reinforced. If a person has a phobia, they will
avoid it because it reduces the anxiety and fear they associate with it. This is negative
, reinforcement as it removes the aversive feeling of anxiety, making the person more likely to
repeat this behaviour as it is rewarding. This causes them to maintain their phobia as they will
never face it.
Point Evidence Conclusion
A strength of the two The two process model Therefore, this application
process model is that it has goes beyond the initiation to therapy is a definite
good explanatory power. stage of phobias as it strength of the model as it
states how we acquire covers multiple areas of
phobias through classical mental disorders,
conditioning but also how including both initiation
we maintain them through and maintenance and can
operant conditioning. be utilised in therapy.
It is also useful for therapy
because if we know how
somebody maintains their
phobia, we can help
prevent them from
practising their avoidance
behaviour.
A strength of behavioural Watson and Rayner Therefore, this supports the
explanation is that it is succeeded in conditioning behavioural explanation as
supported by Watson and Little Albert to fear rats it suggests that it is based
Rayner’s research. through the process of on empirical evidence
classical conditioning. He rather than being purely
made Little Albert form an theoretical, demonstrating
association between the that phobias are ‘learnt.’
unconditioned stimulus of
a loud noise which
produced innate fear, and
the neutral stimulus of a
rat. The rat then became a
conditioned stimulus that
produced a conditioned
response of fear.
A limitation of the two While classical and operant Therefore, the two process
process model is that it is conditioning can be said to model could be labelled as
an incomplete play roles in the reductionist as it fails to
explanation of phobias development and consider the fact that
maintenance of phobias, innate fears could have
