Orval Hobart Mowrer
Orval Hobart Mowrer (born January 23, 1907 , † June 21, 1982 ) was an American psychologist who dealt, among other things, with the behavioral explanation of anxiety disorders and learning psychology . Mowrer worked as a psychotherapist at Galesburg State Research Hospital in Illinois .
As part of the Two-Factor Theory , Mowrer explained phobias as acquired disorders that come about through a combination of classic and operant conditioning : first, an unconditioned stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus, i.e. a fear trigger, through association with an unconditioned reaction. This is negatively reinforced by operant conditioning , whereby the affected person learns to weaken the fear by avoiding the stimulus. A bee sting, for example, can lead to fear of bees (classic conditioning). In the following, the constant avoidance of bees leads to a perpetuation of fear and thus to a constant phobia (operant conditioning). This is a major problem in particular for the therapy of anxiety disorders and has led to the development of exposure therapies such as flooding .
Mowrer's Two-Factor Theory is one of the most influential models of anxiety disorders, but is considered to be in need of addition in today's research approaches.
In 1954 Mowrer was president of the American Psychological Association .
literature
- Orval Hobart Mowrer: Avoidance conditioning and signal duration ,: A study of secondary motivation and reward , American Psychological Association, 1942
- Orval Hobart Mowrer: Abnormal reactions or actions ?: An autobiographical answer , WC Brown, 1966
- Orval Hobart Mowrer: Psychology of Language and Learning , Plenum Pub Corp, 1980, ISBN 0306403714
swell
- ^ S. Rachman, "Anxiety disorders: Some emerging theories," in: Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment. 1984
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Mowrer, Orval Hobart |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American psychologist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 23, 1907 |
| DATE OF DEATH | June 21, 1982 |