Illusory correlation, on-line probability estimates, and electrodermal responding in a (quasi)-conditioning paradigm.
Twenty normal subjects were exposed to two series of two different slides randomly paired with the occurrence or non-occurrence of shock. The first series started with a greater number of pairings of one slide with shock ("target slide") than the other to induce an illusory correlation (IC). Meanwhile, across all trials shock/slide contingency was equal for both slides. During the second series, a truly random sequence of slide-shock trials was used in order to examine whether IC was resistant to disconfirmational information. Subjects' contingency estimates were recorded a posteriori as well as on-line. In addition, electrodermal responding was recorded on a trial-by-trial basis. Data show that it is possible to induce an IC between a neutral stimulus and an aversive outcome by means of a conditioning-like procedure. Moreover, data strongly suggest that an IC can act in such a way as to maintain or enhance covariation bias as indexed by on-line probability estimates. Finally, data sustain the hypothesis that a covariation bias is associated with differential autonomic responding.
de Jong
P J
PJ
Department of Experimental Psychopathology/Mental Health Sciences, Limburg University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Merckelbach
H
H
Arntz
A
A
D000328:Adult; D015982:Bias; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D004597:Electroshock; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D011336:Probability