Potency of Instructed Fear Reversal on Fear Responses: The Underlying Psychological Mechanisms

Abstract

Fear conditioning is a study of much interest because of its contribution to understanding fear related disorders. In fear conditioning, a conditioned stimulus (CS) is repeatedly paired with an aversive unconditioned stimulus (US) resulting in conditioned fear responses to the CS. Of importance, learned contingencies are shown to be reversible by the provision of contingency reversal instructions. Indeed, fear reversal allows one to flexibly readjust reactions to altered circumstances. It seems crucial then to clarify the psychological mechanisms behind fear reversal for further understanding of appropriate and inappropriate control of fear. Research has identified two competing models of fear learning, the single process model and the dual process model, that differently explain the influence of reversal instructions on fear responses. While some studies show support to a single process (e.g., Mertens & De Houwer, 2016), other findings are consistent with dual processes (e.g., Soeter & Kindt, 2010), thus resulting in an inconclusive gap in the fear conditioning literature. Therefore, the study aimed to examine the malleability of skin conductance response and fear potentiated startle to contingency reversal instructions. Using multiple repeated measures ANOVAs, findings revealed that both fear responses immediately reversed, therefore, supporting the single process model in explaining conditioned fear. The findings of the study provide insight to appropriate emotional control and the role of cognitive expectancies which could be of clinical relevance in understanding the control of fear in anxiety disorders and facilitating its treatment. Limitations and important future recommendations are also discussed.