The S-S construct of expectancy versus the S-R construct of fear: which motivates the acquisition of avoidance behavior?
The authors provided a differential test between stimulus-stimulus (S-S) and stimulus-response (S-R) theory predictions in regard to the roles that the constructs of expectancy and of fear play in maintaining classically conditioned fear responding within the context of a human conditioned-avoidance paradigm. After the participants had developed sustained avoidance responding, their shock electrodes and avoidance response apparatus were removed to enhance the cognitive expectancy that the conditioned stimulus (CS) would not be followed by the unconditioned stimulus (UCS). This manipulation of expectancy was successful in 96% of the participants. The study was conducted over a 2-day period and involved 1 experimental group and 3 control groups. During the test trials, the authors used autonomic and self-report indices of fear to assess the presence or absence of fear to the CS. The data disconfirmed the prediction of the S-S theory that fear to the CS would be extinguished. The authors discuss the implications of this finding for S-S theories and for approaches in cognitive behavior therapy.
Unger
William
W
U.S. Veterans Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island 02908, USA. William_Unger@Brown.edu
Evans
Ian M
IM
Rourke
Patricia
P
Levis
Donald J
DJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D003071:Cognition; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule