Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Behavioural Model of Abnormality
- Definition: Abnormality is a learn behaviour (We are all born as clean slates (Tabula
Rasa)
- Definition: Classical Conditioning, Social Learning and Operant
Conditioning
- Definition: If abnormal behaviour is REINFORCED, it will be repeated. If it is punished, it will stop. REINFORCED, REPEATED,
REWARDED.
- Evaluation
- Strengths
- Explains media Influence eg Anorexia
and the "perfect model"
- Convincing explanations
to some disorders ie
Phobia (use study to
support)
- Has led to successful
behavioural therapies ie SD
- Weaknesses
- Reductionist and ignores other explanations
ie schizophrenia which has biological
explanations
- Findings on animals
cannot be generalised
- Classical Conditioning
- Learning occurs through associations
- Unconditional (Natural) Stimuli are ASSOCIATED with behaviours which
were PREVIOUSLY NEUTRAL (NS), so when the novel situation is
encountered, the same response (CS) is portrayed
- PAVLOV'S DOG (1927)
- WATSON AND REYNER (1920)
- LITTLE ALBERT
- Learn to have abnormal responces to
previous stimuli
- Operant Conditioning
- Learning occurs through reinforcemrnt
- Responses which are rewarded (reinforced) will
therefore be repeated due to gaining pleasure from
them. If punished behaviours will be avoided.
- RAT IN SKINNER'S BOX
- If maladaptive behaviours are
rewarded, psychological disorders
emerge.
- Social Learning
- Learning occurs through observations
- Bandura's Bobo Doll (1961)
- Found that children imitated
aggressive behaviours that they
observed.
- Especially if behaviours go without punisment
- Behavioural Treaments
- SYSTEMATIC DESENSITISATION
- 1. Relaxation Training
- 2. Anxiety Hierachy
- 3. Reciprocal Inhibition
- 4. Progression
- 5. Complete Treatment
- Evaluation
- Weaknesses
- Flooding/ Immersion therapy is
cheaper, quicker and just as successful as SD
- Only cures symptoms, not
underlying problem, so it's possible
another abnormal behaviour will take
it's place = Symptom substitution
- Strengths
- Less Effort than some therapies.
McGrath et al (1990) said that 75% of
patients with phobias responded well
to SD.
- Emmelkamp (1994) found that imagined
stressful situations can reduce anxiety in
real life situations
- Helps individual face phobia
without letting fear take over
(Based on Classical
Conditioning)