With Reference to Alternative Research, Critically Assess Bennett-Levy and Marteau’s Research

There is much seek to support the theme of prep bedness in the acquisition of phobias, just like Bennett-levy and Marteau shed done, however many studies white plague non-human brutes, and use experimental research methods. Cook & Mineka (1989) establish that rhesus monkeys could acquire hero-worship with social learning to fear relevant stimuli ( roleplay snakes and crocodiles) yet not of fear-irrelevant stimuli (flowers and a toy rabbit). Subsequently, Cook & Mineka (1990), again using rhesus monkeys, showed them edited videotapes of models reacting fearfully to toy snakes and non-fearfully to bathetic flowers or vice versa.The observers but acquired a fear in the former condition, i. e. when they watched a monkey responding with fear to a snake. However, on that point is experimental research that shows that humans butt show prep atomic number 18dness. Ohman and Soares (1998) showed that participants could be learn more(prenominal) quickly when associated with fear -relevant material, e. g. presents of snakes or spiders, than when paired with fear-irrelevant material, e. g. picture of flowers or mushrooms. Again showing that fear is more readily associated with some things but not others.Bennett-Levy and Marteau deliberately removed the idea that the animals were harmful however is this not a basis to fear an animal? unrivalled biological imperative for fear is try of ailment. Matchett & Davey (1991) and Ware et al (1994) looked at the blood amid animal fears relating to contamination and to likelihood of attack. They investigated fear of predatory animals and other fear-relevant animals. twain groups of animals elicited fear but only the animals carrying a risk of disease too elicited aversion.Those participants with the greatest fear of the unsavoury animals also scored highly on scales such(prenominal) as fear of illness and neurotic washing. Further support for this idea comes from Davey et al (1998) who conducted a cross-cultu ral study into animal fears. They found that, although cultures share fear for animals which are untrained, the greatest similarity was in those eliciting disgust again indicating a link between phobias and animal-borne disease. The distinction between fear of fierce and infection-risk animals is demonstrated by experimental march from Davey et al (2003).They found that people ordain tend to become classically conditioned to pain responses associated with predatory animals (i. e. fierce ones). Disgustrelated inborn stimuli, however, were more readily associated with lowpredation animals (i. e. ones with a disease risk) than with safe ones. There does seem to be reasons for fearing animals, but in the modern leisurely existence that many enjoy, there are few natural things that will impairment us and we have little reason to fear, but phobias are one of the commonest disorders in our society.