5.1.5

Evaluation of Behavioural Explanations of Phobias

Test yourself on Evaluation of Behavioural Explanations of Phobias

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Support for Behavioural Therapy: Ost et al (1991)

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

Procedure

Procedure

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

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.
Evaluation

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.

Support - **Barlow & Durand (1995)**

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.
Support - **Bandura and Rosenthal (1966)**

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
1

Social Influence

2

Memory

3

Attachment

4

(2026 Exams) Psychopathology

5

(2027 Exams) Clinical Psychology & Mental Health

6

Approaches in Psychology

7

Biopsychology

8

Research Methods

8.1

Research Methods

8.2

Scientific Processes

8.3

Data Handling & Analysis

8.4

Inferential Testing

9

Issues & Debates in Psychology (A2 only)

10

Option 1: Relationships (A2 only)

10.1

Relationships: Sexual Relationships (A2 only)

10.2

Relationships: Romantic Relationships (A2 only)

10.3

(2026 Exams) Relationships: Virtual (A2 only)

10.4

(2027 Exams) Relationships: Online (A2 only)

11

Option 1: Gender (A2 only)

12

Option 1: Cognition & Development (A2 only)

13

Option 2: Schizophrenia (A2 only)

14

Option 2: Eating Behaviour (A2 only)

15

Option 2: Stress (A2 only)

16

Option 3: Aggression (A2 only)

17

Option 3: Forensic Psychology (A2 only)

18

Option 3: Addiction (A2 only)

Practice questions on Evaluation of Behavioural Explanations of Phobias

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
Answer all questions on Evaluation of Behavioural Explanations of Phobias

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium