Mowrer's Two-Factor Theory

An essential component of understanding a client's presenting problem(s) and establishing an efficient treatment plan is to conceptualize his/her case. The main focus in Maria's case is her diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In order to conceptualize her case, two theoretical models were used to explain the development and maintenance of her posttraumatic stress symptoms. These theoretical models have been recognized as Mowrer's (1947) two-factor theory, and Ehlers and Clark's (2000) cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder.
Mowrer's Two-Factor Theory Orval Hobart Mowrer's (1947) two-factor theory has "combined both classical and operant process to provide an explanation" for why anxiety and phobias are
38). Mowrer proposed that "anxiety initially develops via classical conditioning, when a neutral stimulus is paired with a fear-producing stimulus," for instance a baseball bat (i.e., a neutral stimulus) can generate fear when it is paired with a fear-producing situation, such as being beaten with the baseball bat (as cited in Zayfert & Becker, 2014, p. 11). Therefore, the pairing of a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) can produce a conditioned fear response (CR) (Zayfert & Becker). Mowrer also suggested that "once a phobic response is established through classical conditioning processes, the affected individual tends to avoid the feared stimulus" (as cited in Bennett, 2011, p. 38). Mowrer indicated that avoidance behavior is frequently reinforced