Explanations Of Dysfunctional Behaviour- Behavioural (Watson and Raynor)

Three approaches: 

1. Behavioural 
2. Biological
3. Cognitive

Behavioural:

Dysfunctional behaviour learnt by:

Classical conditioning (Watson and Raynor)
Operant Conditioning (skinner)
Social Learning (Bandura)

Watson and Raynor

Aim: To see if a fear response can be conditioned in a baby by a previously neutral stimulus.

Method: Case study (in controlled lab conditions)

Participant: Little Albert, 8 month old, unemotional. No fear response to a rat, rabbit, monkey, coat, mask, newspaper on fire, but alarmed by a steel bar hit by a hammer.

Procedure: Five sessions over several weeks.

Sessions 1 and 2: Albert presented with rat and steel bar struck. Progressively, rat presented without loud noise and Albert would cry and crawl away.

Sessions 3 and 4: Albert presented with rat, then rabbit, dog mask, cotton wool and santa mask. Fear is transferred. 

Session 5: One month later- tested with various stimuli; Fear response still present.

Conclusion: Fear response learnt by classical conditioning.