Unit 1 Psychopathology The Behavioural Approach to Explaining

Unit 1 - Psychopathology The Behavioural Approach to Explaining Phobias

The Behavioural Model �All behaviour is learnt, therefore abnormal behaviour is learnt: Classical conditioning • Operant Conditioning • SLT / Modeling •

Key Words: Classical Conditioning Association Operant Conditioning Social Learning Theory Reinforcement. Observation or Modelling

The Behavioural Model of Abnormality Principles of Classical Conditioning �https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=hhqumf pxuz. I

The Behavioural Model of Abnormality Principles of Classical Conditioning BEFORE CONDITIONING Salivation reflex Food = Salivation Explaining a Phobia Pain = Fear Bell = No response Dentist = No response DURING CONDITIONING Food + Bell = Salivation Pain + Dentist = Fear AFTER CONDITIONING Bell = Salivation Dentist = Fear All about associating a stimulus with a response

Little Albert ‘Little Albert’ (Watson & Raynor, 1920) conditioned a fear response in an 11 -month old boy to a white rat. Every time he went to touch the rat, metal bars were banged together to create loud noise. Albert associated the rat with noise and therefore fear. https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=CYGXMXGkxtc

The Behavioural of Abnormality Principles of Model Operant Conditioning 9 m 50 secs Shaping behaviour through the consequences of actions REINFORCEMENT – makes it more likely a behaviour will be repeated (reinforcement can be positive or negative) PUNISHMENT – makes it less likely a behaviour will be repeated

The Behavioural of Abnormality Principles of Model Operant Conditioning 9 m 50 secs �https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=I_ct. Jqjlr HA

Phobias: Two-Process Model �Mowrer (1947) �A phobia is first acquired through classical conditioning �Once a behaviour phobia has been acquired it is maintained through operant conditioning �A behaviour that is reinforced is more likely to be repeated �A phobic response is unpleasant, so escaping the object or situation causes a reduction in fear (negative reinforcement) �Will is afraid of lifts, so instead he uses the stairs, which reduces anxiety = reinforces behaviour

Recap Questions �Finish this sentence outlining the behavioural approach: All behaviours are… �What is the key word to explain Classical Conditioning? �What are the key words to explain Operant Conditioning? �How does Classical Conditioning explain the development of phobias? �How does Operant Conditioning explain the maintenance of phobias? �What is the two-process model?

Recap Questions �Finish this sentence outlining the behavioural approach: All behaviours are…LEARNED �What is the key word to explain Classical Conditioning? ASSOCIATION �What are the key words to explain Operant Conditioning? REINFORCEMENT/PUNISHMENT �How does Classical Conditioning explain the development of phobias? E. g. fear of dentist �How does Operant Conditioning explain the maintenance of phobias? �What is the two-process model?

Recap Questions Classical Conditioning – An explanation for fear of the dentist: BEFORE: �Neutral Stimulus (NS) = Dentist �Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) = Pain �Unconditioned Response (UCR) = Fear DURING: �Dentist + Pain AFTER: �Dentist (Conditioned Stimulus) = Fear (Conditioned Response) https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=CYGXMXGkxtc

Recap Questions Operant Conditioning – Explanation for maintaining phobias: �A fear response is unpleasant; escaping the object or situation reduces fear; avoidance behaviour is strengthened. �Can you give another example?

Phobias: Two-Process Model �Mowrer (1947) �A phobia is first acquired through classical conditioning �Once a behaviour phobia has been acquired it is maintained through operant conditioning �A behaviour that is reinforced is more likely to be repeated �A phobic response is unpleasant, so escaping the object or situation causes a reduction in fear (negative reinforcement) �Will is afraid of lifts, so instead he uses the stairs, which reduces anxiety = reinforces behaviour

Evaluating Two-Process Model �Supporting Evidence: �Sue et al (1994) Individuals with a phobia often recall a specific incident to trigger fear �Barlow & Durand (1995) 50% of those with driving phobia reported a traumatic experience while driving �Supports acquisition part of phobia, but doesn’t help explain maintenance

Evaluating Two Process Model �Not all phobias are acquired as a result of negative experiences �Ost (1987) people with fear of snakes, planes, germs have not had unpleasant experience �Some people have negative experiences and do not go on to develop a phobia �Dinardo (1988) Ps in a control group without a phobia of dogs had a similar proportion of negative incidents with dogs as the phobic group

The Behavioural Model of Abnormality Social Learning Theory �Behaviour (of a role model) is observed and then copied. Also known as imitation or modeling. �https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v= KHi 2 dx. Sf 9 hw

Social Learning Theory �Most famous experiment involved a researcher called Bandura who used a ‘bobo doll’ in his experiments with children �https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=zer. CK 0 l Rjp 8

Social Learning Theory Unlike classical and operant conditioning, SLT takes into account cognitions. � SLT is the bridge between learning theory and the cognitive approach. � These mental factors mediate in the learning process to determine if a response is acquired. � �Attention �Reproduction �Motivation

Phobias: Social Learning Theory �How might SLT explain phobias? �E. g. Child observes mother’s fear response to spiders �Child will then ‘copy’ that fear response and develop a phobia of spiders too.

How to evaluate Approaches �Strengths of the approach (Are there studies to support this explanation? ) �Evaluate the supporting evidence How do studies support this approach? Can you evaluate these studies – methodology, ethics, implications �Limitations of the approach – Does it fail to explain aspects of behaviour? �Practical / useful applications – treatments? �Issues and Debates – E. g. too reductionist? �Comparison with other approaches

Evaluations of Behavioural Approach

Evaluation � Evaluation is a skill! � It takes time and practice to become an effective evaluator! � Developing these skills will require you to think about evaluation points and why they are important.

Treating Phobias �Is it possible to treat phobias? �How? �Using behavioural principles, design a ‘treatment programme’ for someone who is afraid of spiders �Could you treat phobias using any other approach?