An online spider game: Overcome your fear, exposure is near

Abstract

Spider-fearful people tend to avoid spiders, resulting in maintaining their phobia. However, some people can overcome their fear and approach spiders. This approach might be key in the reduction of fear and avoidance behaviour. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of approach-avoidance behaviour on (changes in) spider fear and avoidance. Participants (n = 122) with varying levels of spider fear played the online “collect the coins” game. In this game, participants had to collect 100 coins by clicking on different symbols. One symbol always resulted in one coin (safe option); another symbol mostly resulted in a large reward (3 coins), but sometimes in a spider (risky option). Participants rated the digital spider on evoked fear, disgust, and distress. Spider fear was measured with the fear of spiders questionnaire (FSQ). Avoidance was measured via symbol selection, self-reported avoidance, and a digital behavioural avoidance test, dBAT. Higher FSQ scores correlated with more self-reported spider-fear, -distress and -disgust, and larger dBAT-distances. Additionally, higher FSQ scores correlated with less risky- and more safe-selections. Importantly, more risky selections resulted in a stronger decrease in self-reported spider-fear and -disgust, whereas safe selections increased these emotions. Future studies are necessary to test if this link between approach-avoidance behaviour and emotional changes holds for spider phobics and real spiders.