Answer to Question #205186 in Psychology for Hailee

Question

describe and evaluate the behavioural approach to explaining phobias. (16 marks)

Answer 1

Phobias are explained as a result of conditioning in response to a phobic stimulus in the Behaviorist approach. Most stimuli are initially neutral, according to behavioralists such as Pavlov. Individuals are not genetically predisposed to respond to them. We will create an association between the unpleasant sensation (unconditioned stimulus—the sting) and the neutral stimuli if we experience an unpleasant sensation in the presence of this neutral stimulus, such as the sting of a bee. This means that in the presence of the now conditioned stimulus (in this case, the bee), we become conditioned to create fear—it becomes an unconditioned response.

Skinner proposed that operant training is responsible for the persistence of phobias. Avoiding the phobic stimuli and hence fear is gratifying, motivating us to continue avoiding what we are afraid of. Similarly, experiencing the stimuli and so fear is punishing, therefore we avoid confronting our phobia. This conditioned behavior pattern is unlikely to allow us to confront our phobia, therefore it perpetuates the unhealthy behavior.