Predictive Bias Towards Neutral Stimuli in Non-Clinical Anxious Individuals

Abstract

The relationship among predictive bias towards neutral stimuli, trait anxiety and gender in non-clinical individuals is studied. According to the scores on Trait Anxiety Inventory (TAI), 31 individuals are randomly selected from the highest 20% scorers as the high anxiety group, and 31 individuals from the lowest 20% scorers as the low anxiety group. Three types of stimulus situations are designed in the experiment, that is, 100% predictable, 50% predictable and unpredictable stimulus situations. MANOVA, which is performed on the reaction of high/low anxiety groups under three stimulus situations, shows that significant differences exist between high anxiety and low anxiety group under the 50% predictable and unpredictable conditions. Independent sample T test shows significant gender differences on predictive bias exist only in high anxiety group. Results of this study show that predictive bias towards neutral stimulus can be found in non-clinical anxious individuals and is significantly correlated with trait anxiety. In addition, predictive bias is more evident in high anxious female.