Manipulating perceptions of spider characteristics and predicted spider fear: Evidence for the cognitive vulnerability model of the etiology of fear

dc.contributor.authorArmfield, J.
dc.contributor.organisationAustralian Research Centre for Population Oral Health
dc.date.issued2007
dc.descriptionCopyright © 2006 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.
dc.description.abstractThe present study reports on an attempt to experimentally manipulate perceptions of uncontrollability, unpredictability and dangerousness related to an imaginal encounter with a spider in order to determine whether there is an effect on self-rated predicted spider fear. Experimental manipulations involved differing information in relation to both the spider and the imaginal task. The control, predictability and dangerousness manipulations all had significant main effects on task-related spider fear (TRSF). Measures of the perception of the spiders as uncontrollable, unpredictable and dangerous were also significantly associated with TRSF and accounted for 42% of the variance in predicted fear beyond that accounted for by the experimental manipulations. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for better understanding the etiology and maintenance of fear. The overall findings are consistent with the cognitive vulnerability model, with cognitive perceptions of an object or situation seen as causal determinants of the fear associated with the stimulus.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityJason M. Armfield
dc.description.urihttp://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/801/description#description
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Anxiety Disorders, 2007; 21(5):691-703
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.janxdis.2006.10.005
dc.identifier.issn0887-6185
dc.identifier.issn1873-7897
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/44299
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherPergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2006.10.005
dc.subjectFear
dc.subjectCognitive vulnerability
dc.subjectControl
dc.subjectPredictability
dc.subjectDanger
dc.subjectSpider phobia
dc.titleManipulating perceptions of spider characteristics and predicted spider fear: Evidence for the cognitive vulnerability model of the etiology of fear
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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