COVARIATION BIAS AND ELECTRODERMAL RESPONDING IN SPIDER PHOBICS BEFORE AND AFTER BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT

被引:23
作者
DEJONG, P
MERCKELBACH, H
机构
[1] Department of Experimental Psychopathology/Mental Health Sciences, Limburg University, 6200 MD Maastricht
关键词
D O I
10.1016/0005-7967(91)90065-B
中图分类号
B849 [应用心理学];
学科分类号
040203 ;
摘要
The present study investigated whether a covariation bias is present in severe spider phobics and whether such bias is modified by successful treatment. In addition, this study sought to examine whether a covariation bias is linked to differential autonomic responding. Subjects were 20 untreated phobics, 19 treated phobics, and 18 no-fear controls. Subjects were exposed to a series of 72 slides comprising three categories: spiders (fear-relevant), mushrooms, and flowers. At slide offset one of three possible outcomes occurred: a shock, a tone, or nothing at all. All slide-outcome combinations occurred equally frequent. The results show that an equally strong covariation bias is present in severe spider phobics, in successfully treated phobics, and in no-fear controls. Thus, the present data only partially sustain earlier findings of Tomarken A.J., Mineka S. & Cook M. (1989) (Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 98, 381-394). The covariation bias appeared to be mimicked by differentially heightened autonomic responding. The current data suggest that both the covariation bias and the heightened physiological responding reflect a "beloningness" between spider slides and aversive outcome. © 1991.
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页码:307 / 314
页数:8
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