| dc.description.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. | |
