Dishabituation processes in height fear and dental fear: an indirect test of the non-associative model of fear acquisition.
The fear dishabituation hypothesis described in the non-associative model of fear acquisition was tested in a longitudinal birth cohort study. Results were consistent with height fear and phobia dishabituation. That is, 're-emergence' of a fear of heights occurred between age 11 and 18 years among individuals who reported higher levels of non-specific stress at age 15. Interestingly, there was no evidence for dental fear dishabituation--a finding consistent with the non-associative model of fear acquisition. Strengths and weaknesses of the study were considered and the results discussed in relation to laboratory-based findings on (dis)habituation.
Poulton
R
R
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand.
Waldie
K E
KE
Craske
M G
MG
Menzies
R G
RG
McGee
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013315:Stress, Psychological