title: The expectancy bias model of selective associations: the relationship of judgements of CS dangerousness, CS-UCS similarity and prior fear to a priori and a posteriori covariation assessments.
abstract: This paper describes three experiments examining predictions from the expectancy bias model of selective associations (Davey, 1995). In a simulated 'threat' conditioning procedure, Experiment 1 showed that UCS expectancy following both ontogenetic and phylogenetic CSs was significantly predicted by: (1) ratings of the dangerousness of the CS, perceptions of CS-UCS similarity, and level of prior fear to the CS; and (2) ratings of CS-UCS similarity on the dimensions of valence, arousal and anxiety. Experiment 2 used a covariation assessment procedure which confirmed the findings of Experiment 1, and also showed that both phylogenetic and ontogenetic fear-relevant CSs exhibited both a priori and a posteriori covariation biases. Experiment 3 found that Ss high and low in fear to a fear-relevant CS exhibited a significant a priori UCS expectancy bias, but this bias was significantly larger in high fear Ss. Only high fear Ss exhibited an a posteriori covariation bias. These results are consistent with predictions from the expectancy bias model.
authors.affiliation: School of Cognitive & Computing Science, University of Sussex, U.K.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Davey
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Dixon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D001245:Association Learning; D001288:Attention; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D012718:Set, Psychology