title: What you cannot see can help you: the effect of exposure to unreportable stimuli on approach behavior.
abstract: We examined effects of exposure to unreportable images of spiders on approach towards a tarantula. Pretests revealed awareness of the stimuli was at chance. Participants high or low (top and bottom 15%) on fear of spiders were randomly assigned to receive computer-generated exposure to unreportable pictures of spiders or outdoor scenes. They then engaged in a Behavioral Approach Task (BAT) with a live tarantula. Non-fearful participants completed more BAT items than spider-fearful individuals. Additionally, as predicted, a significant interaction (F(1,48)=5.12, p<.03) between fear of spiders and stimulus demonstrated that spider-fearful participants exposed to spiders completed more BAT items than spider-fearful participants exposed to control stimuli (but not as many as non-fearful participants). The findings support the hypothesis that exposure to unreportable feared stimuli promotes approach towards the feared object. Future research and clinical implications were discussed.
authors.affiliation: Derner Institute, Adelphi University, Box 701, Garden City, NY 11530, United States. researchberger@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weinberger
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.forename: Caleb
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Siefert
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drwal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001364:Awareness; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007171:Implosive Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D013112:Spiders; D013360:Subliminal Stimulation; D014796:Visual Perception; D055815:Young Adult