4.1.5

Evaluation of Behavioural Explanations of Phobias

Test yourself

Support for Behavioural Therapy: Ost et al (1991)

Ost et al (1991) retrospectively studies blood and needle phobias.

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Procedure

  • 81 blood phobics and 56 needle phobics were asked to complete a questionnaire on their memories of the possible origins of their phobias.
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Results & conclusions

  • Results
    • 52% of the patients attributed the onset of their phobias to conditioning experiences, while 24% recalled vicarious experiences, 7% instruction/information and 17% could not remember any specific onset circumstances.
  • Conclusions
    • The majority attributed their phobias to conditioning – a learnt response.
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Evaluation

  • Strengths
    • Practical applications.
  • Limitations
    • Based on retrospective memory.

Evaluation of the Behavioural Explanation of Phobias

Here are studies in support of and against the behavioural explanation of phobias.

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Support - Barlow & Durand (1995)

  • Barlow & Durand (1995) reported that 50% of people with a phobia for driving could remember a specific incident (car accident) that had triggered their fear, again supporting the theory that phobias are learned.
    • However, about 50% of people with phobias cannot recall a specific event that triggered the fear.
Illustrative background for Support - **Bandura and Rosenthal (1966)**Illustrative background for Support - **Bandura and Rosenthal (1966)** ?? "content

Support - Bandura and Rosenthal (1966)

  • Bandura and Rosenthal (1966) supported the social learning explanation. In the experiment, the model acted as though he were in pain whenever a buzzer sounded.
  • Later on, those participants that had observed this showed an emotional reaction to the buzzer, demonstrating an acquired ‘fear’ response.
  • If a phobia can be learnt, then it can be successfully unlearnt by counter conditioning. So, the theory has practical applications.

Counter evidence

  • DiNardo (1988) - not everyone who is bitten by a dog develops a fear of dogs Some phobias can be explained by evolution. It makes sense to be afraid of heights, fire, spiders etc. as they are dangerous and avoiding them helps us survive.
  • Davey (1992) found that individuals with a fear of spiders had very different personal characteristics to those that were not. This suggests that fear of spiders was not learnt, but innate and related to certain personality traits.

Jump to other topics

1Social Influence

2Memory

3Attachment

4Psychopathology

5Approaches in Psychology

6Biopsychology

7Research Methods

8Issues & Debates in Psychology (A2 only)

9Option 1: Relationships (A2 only)

10Option 1: Gender (A2 only)

11Option 1: Cognition & Development (A2 only)

12Option 2: Schizophrenia (A2 only)

13Option 2: Eating Behaviour (A2 only)

14Option 2: Stress (A2 only)

15Option 3: Aggression (A2 only)

16Option 3: Forensic Psychology (A2 only)

17Option 3: Addiction (A2 only)

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