The effects of level of fear and rate of approach on cardiac rate and avoidance of a phobic stimulus

Abstract

Thirty-two undergraduate female volunteers were selected on the basis of unusually high or low scores on SNQ, a questionnaire sampling fear of snakes. These subjects participated in a ten step, semi-automated snake approach task while cardiac rate was measured. Orthogonal to level of fear, two different rates of approach were used; one in which each approach step followed immediately after the preceding one, and one in which the approach steps were separated by 30 sec. Low-fear subjects completed the approach task without stopping, showing low and stable cardiac rates throughout. High-fear subjects stopped the approach task significantly earlier, and those in the rapid approach condition showed significantly higher heart rates. Contrary to prediction, high-fear subjects in the slow approach condition terminated the task significantly earlier than their fast approach counterparts, but showed lower heart rates.