Social Learning Theory and Phobias

Definition of Phobias

Phobias are extreme or irrational fears of or aversions to specific things or situations.
The Social Learning Theory suggests that phobias can be learnt through observational learning and imitation.

Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment

Albert Bandura carried out an experiment showing children a video of an adult behaving aggressively towards a Bobo Doll, then observed their subsequent behaviour.
The theory explains how an individual can develop a phobia by observing someone else’s fears and responses.

Modelling

In modelling, a person replicates the behaviour, fears and response of another person, indirectly learning the phobia.
The observed person is called the model. If the model shows signs of fear or anxiety towards a certain object or situation, the observer might also develop the same fear or anxiety.

Vicarious Reinforcement

Vicarious reinforcement is another way of learning according to the Social Learning Theory. This happens when an individual witnesses another person (the model) being rewarded or punished for a specific behaviour.
If the individual observes the model avoiding a feared object or scenario and consequently avoiding fear, they may imitate this behaviour leading to the development of the same phobia.

Not all phobias can be explained by Social Learning Theory as some phobias (e.g. fear of spiders or heights) may not have been learnt through observation.
The theory does not take into account genetic factors, which may predispose a person to anxiety disorders, including phobias.