Conditioning experiences in spider phobics.
Using the Phobic Origin Questionnaire (Ost, L. G. & Hugdahl, K. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 19, 439-477, 1981), the present study examined the extent to which severe spider phobics (N = 42) attributed their phobia to conditioning experiences, modeling experiences and/or informational learning experiences. Modeling was most often reported (71%), followed by conditioning (57%), and informational learning experiences (45%). It was also found that patients with a conditioning background reported less extreme cognitive symptoms when confronted with the phobic stimulus than patients with an indirect mode of acquisition (modeling and/or informational learning).
Department of Experimental Psychopathology/Mental Health Sciences, Limburg University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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H
Merckelbach
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A
Arntz
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P
de Jong
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D003887:Desensitization, Psychologic; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D013112:Spiders