APPLICATION OF REINFORCEMENT AND PARTICIPANT MODELING PROCEDURES IN TREATMENT OF SNAKE-PHOBIC BEHAVIOR

In Experiment I, one group of snake phobic Ss was reinforced (with tokens) for approaching a harmless snake. A second group received token reinforcement on a non-contingent basis, in the same setting, with a third group serving as non-treated controls. Although slight improvement was noted for all three groups, the groups did not differ significantly with respect to an increase in approach behavior or a reduction in subjective fear rating. A fourth group of snake phobic Ss was reinforced with money for approaching the snake, but showed no more improvement than the other three groups. In Experiment II. Ss who had participated in Experiment I were assigned to a participant modeling (P-M) group, in which they observed a fearless model interact with a snake and were subsequently guided through similar interactions with the snake, or to a non-treated control group. The P-M Ss showed a very marked decrement in snake phobic behavior (which generalized to a non-treatment snake) following the 40-min treatment, in contrast to control Ss who showed virtually no change. © 1969.