Should fearful individuals be instructed to proceed quickly or cautiously?
Snake or cockroach phobic Ss were given opportunities to approach a live specimen. Those instructed to go "as far as they could" made significantly more progress in overcoming their fear than Ss asked to proceed cautiously. They also did better than the group especially urged to push themselves, although this difference was not significant. Implications for treatment strategies are discussed.
D000818:Animals; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003058:Cockroaches; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D012911:Snakes