Covert modeling and the reduction of avoidance behavior.

Abstract

Summary The present study investigated the effect of covert modeling in reducing snake avoidance. Covert modeling entails the modeling paradigm without live or film models. A model who executed behaviors which would be anxiety provoking for the subject was imagined by the subject. Different model descriptions were used: a coping model who was depicted as initially anxious but eventually fearless in fear-relevant scenes and a mastery model who was depicted as performing fearlessly throughout the scenes. A scene control group received similar scenes as modeling groups without the presence of the model. A delayed-treatment control group was used to assess the effects of repeated testing at pretreatment and posttreatment assessments and received no intervening treatment. Subsequently, this group received convert modeling without specification of affective cues of the model. In two sessions, all covert modeling groups showed significant increases in approach behavior and reductions in emotional arousal and anxiety ratings. Changes in attitudes were less consistent across treatments. No-treatment and scene control groups did not improve on any of the measures. As predicted from previous work on attributes of the model, a coping model led to greater change at postest than the mastery model. The effect of both treatment conditions was maintained at a 3-week follow-up assessment.