Explaining Phobias: The Two-Process Model
Explaining Phobias: The Two-Process Model
The behavioural approach states that all behaviour, including phobias, is learned. Orval Hobart Mowrer (1960) proposed the two-process model to explain how phobias are learned and maintained.
Corrected classical conditioning sequence:
- Unconditioned stimulus (UCS), for example a loud noise → Unconditioned response (UCR), such as fear
- Neutral stimulus (NS), for example a white rat, paired with the UCS → UCR (fear)
- After repeated pairings, the NS becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS)
- Conditioned stimulus (CS), the white rat, now produces a conditioned response (CR), fear