Two-factor theory (learning theory)

The two-factor theory (also two-factor model ) is a model by Orval Hobart Mowrer (1947, 1960) that combines the principles of classical and operant conditioning. It is used in behavior therapy to explain many mental disorders, in particular anxiety disorders , obsessive-compulsive disorders and fears in post-traumatic stress disorder .

The process is as follows:

Classical conditioning : An aversive unconditioned stimulus (US) that naturally elicits an unconditioned response (UR) is coupled to a neutral stimulus, thereby turning the original neutral stimulus into a conditioned stimulus (CS). The conditioned stimulus elicits a conditioned response (CR) after conditioning.
Operant conditioning : behaviors (R) that end the encounter with the conditioned stimulus (escape) or through which the encounter can be circumvented (avoidance) lead to a negative reinforcement (C- /), which means that the previously conditioned aversive reaction (CR) ends or does not occur. This increases avoidance or flight behavior.

According to this model, the behavioral treatment of anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder consists primarily in the confrontation with reaction prevention. This means that one wants to achieve a habituation of the classically conditioned reaction through confrontation , so that in combination with the response prevention of the operant conditioned reaction there is an overall extinction of fear.

Critical reception

The theory is widely recognized as a behavioral model, but there has also been criticism. According to Field, the theory is insufficient to explain phobias because:

many could not remember the learning situation
nor do everyone with a frightening situation develop a phobia.
The fear sometimes increases instead of decreases when confronted (is now explained with safety behavior).

It cannot be explained why certain sensory stimuli trigger phobias more often, such as spiders ( Seligmann's preparedness theory )
According to the three-pathways theory (Rachmann, 1977), fears can also be conveyed through verbal information (instruction learning ) or observation of role models ( learning from a model ).

Another criticism is that if perfectly avoided, the classic conditioning would be deleted. Since there is no fear reaction, the second step would be to negatively strengthen the escape reaction through fear reduction.

According to Reinecker, cultural, emotional, cognitive aspects and other levels such as self-regulation, feedback and interaction should be given due consideration when explaining obsessive-compulsive disorder . It is further criticized

Obsessive thoughts can hardly be explained with the model,

According to patient reports, the compulsions and fears cannot be reduced, but rather a problem of fear-increasing compulsions would arise

that the assumption of a triggering situation can only be found in 1/4 of the patients and can hardly be refuted empirically,

that patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder are magically attracted to triggering situations and not avoid them as assumed.

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b Michael Zaudig: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Diagnostics and Therapy; with 27 tables . Schattauer Verlag, 2002, ISBN 978-3-7945-2145-6 , pp. 81 ( limited preview in Google Book search).
↑ ^a ^b ^c Adly Rausch: Pupils with problems: terms - environment - possibilities for action . Julius Klinkhardt, 2006, ISBN 978-3-7815-1465-2 , pp. 126 ( limited preview in Google Book search).
^ ^A ^b ^c Silvia Schneider, Jürgen Margraf: Textbook of behavior therapy: Volume 3: Disorders in childhood and adolescence . Springer Science & Business Media, 2009, ISBN 978-3-540-79544-5 , pp. 508 ( limited preview in Google Book search).
↑ Jürgen Margraf, Silvia Schneider: Textbook of behavior therapy: Volume 2: Disorders in adulthood - Special indications - Glossary . Springer Science & Business Media, 2008, ISBN 978-3-540-79542-1 , p. 111 ( limited preview in Google Book search).
^ Hans-Ulrich Wittchen, Jürgen Hoyer: Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy (textbook with online materials) . Springer, 2011, ISBN 978-3-642-13018-2 , pp. 993 ( limited preview in Google Book search).
↑ Michael Linden, Martin Hautzinger: Behavioral Therapy Manual . Springer-Verlag, 2015, ISBN 978-3-642-55210-6 , pp. 554 ( limited preview in Google Book search).
↑ Wolfgang Senf, Michael Broda: Practice of Psychotherapy: An integrative textbook . Georg Thieme Verlag, 2011, ISBN 978-3-13-158545-5 , p. 218–219 ( limited preview in Google Book search).
↑ Wolfgang Fiegenbaum: Agoraphobia - Theoretical Concepts and Treatment Methods: An empirical study on comparative therapy research . Springer-Verlag, 2013, ISBN 978-3-322-89408-3 , pp. 72 ( limited preview in Google Book search).
↑ Wolfgang Fiegenbaum: Agoraphobia - Theoretical Concepts and Treatment Methods: An empirical study on comparative therapy research . Springer-Verlag, 2013, ISBN 978-3-322-89408-3 , pp. 16 ( google.de ).
↑ Wolfgang Senf, Michael Broda: Practice of Psychotherapy: An integrative textbook . Georg Thieme Verlag, 2011, ISBN 978-3-13-158545-5 , p. 350 ( limited preview in Google Book Search).

[:0-1] Michael Zaudig: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Diagnostics and Therapy; with 27 tables . Schattauer Verlag, 2002, ISBN 978-3-7945-2145-6 , pp. 81 ( limited preview in Google Book search).

[:1-2] Adly Rausch: Pupils with problems: terms - environment - possibilities for action . Julius Klinkhardt, 2006, ISBN 978-3-7815-1465-2 , pp. 126 ( limited preview in Google Book search).

[:2-3] A ^b ^c Silvia Schneider, Jürgen Margraf: Textbook of behavior therapy: Volume 3: Disorders in childhood and adolescence . Springer Science & Business Media, 2009, ISBN 978-3-540-79544-5 , pp. 508 ( limited preview in Google Book search).

[4] Jürgen Margraf, Silvia Schneider: Textbook of behavior therapy: Volume 2: Disorders in adulthood - Special indications - Glossary . Springer Science & Business Media, 2008, ISBN 978-3-540-79542-1 , p. 111 ( limited preview in Google Book search).

[5] Hans-Ulrich Wittchen, Jürgen Hoyer: Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy (textbook with online materials) . Springer, 2011, ISBN 978-3-642-13018-2 , pp. 993 ( limited preview in Google Book search).

[6] Michael Linden, Martin Hautzinger: Behavioral Therapy Manual . Springer-Verlag, 2015, ISBN 978-3-642-55210-6 , pp. 554 ( limited preview in Google Book search).

[7] Wolfgang Senf, Michael Broda: Practice of Psychotherapy: An integrative textbook . Georg Thieme Verlag, 2011, ISBN 978-3-13-158545-5 , p. 218–219 ( limited preview in Google Book search).

[8] Wolfgang Fiegenbaum: Agoraphobia - Theoretical Concepts and Treatment Methods: An empirical study on comparative therapy research . Springer-Verlag, 2013, ISBN 978-3-322-89408-3 , pp. 72 ( limited preview in Google Book search).

[9] Wolfgang Fiegenbaum: Agoraphobia - Theoretical Concepts and Treatment Methods: An empirical study on comparative therapy research . Springer-Verlag, 2013, ISBN 978-3-322-89408-3 , pp. 16 ( google.de ).

[10] Wolfgang Senf, Michael Broda: Practice of Psychotherapy: An integrative textbook . Georg Thieme Verlag, 2011, ISBN 978-3-13-158545-5 , p. 350 ( limited preview in Google Book Search).