Behavioral analysis of fear-related responding using a modified matching-to-sample procedure

Abstract

Analysis was given to cognitive and behavioral assessment of fear-related responding. Stimulus equivalence was offered as a new approach to the analysis of the “meaning” of stimulus sets. The formation of three-member (A → B → C) stimulus equivalence classes was used to investigate the effects of two different sets of sample and comparison stimuli on emergent behavior. The two sets were composed of snake-related stimuli (Condition 1) and flower-related stimuli (Condition 2). Stimuli in these two conditions were matched on a number of relevant dimensions. Forty-seven female and male subjects participated in a modified matching-to-sample experiment. Using a mixed cross-over design, subjects received training and emergent relationship training in both stimulus set conditions, controlling for serial order effects. Results revealed a significant interaction between the formation of stimulus equivalence classes and stimulus “meaning”, indicative of consistently biased responding in favor of reaching criterion responding more slowly for snake-related stimuli. Results were examined in the context of a modified relational control model of equivalence responding. Results were also discussed in relation to behavioral and cognitive hypotheses, with special appraisal given to the influence of fear-related discriminative stimuli on behavior, which may ultimately be tied to behaviorally-based etiological models of anxiety.