Automatic Approach-avoidance Tendencies Research Articles

Training older adults to inhibit the automatic attraction to sedentary stimuli: A cognitive-bias-modification protocol

Background: To counteract the pandemic of physical inactivity, current interventions rely mainly on reflective processes that focus on increasing the motivation to be physically active. Yet, while these interventions successfully increase the intention to be active, their effect on actual behavior is weak. Recent findings in line with the theory of effort minimization in physical activity (TEMPA) suggest that this inability to turn the intention into action is explained by positive automatic reactions to stimuli associated with sedentary behaviors. These automatic reactions could be particularly strong in older adults, who are more likely to associate physical activity with fear, pain, or discomfort. Objective: The aim of this program is to test the effect of an intervention aiming to counteract their automatic attraction toward sedentary stimuli and to respond positively to physical-activity stimuli in older adults. Training older adults to inhibit the automatic attraction toward sedentary stimuli is hypothesized to increase physical activity, thereby contributing to improved physical functioning and quality of life. Methods: To test these hypotheses, older adults (≥ 60 years) will be enrolled in a controlled double-blinded study with 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up. Participants will be randomized (1:1 ratio) to receive a 12-session cognitive-bias modification training for 3-week based on a go / no-go task either in an experimental or a control condition (placebo). The primary outcome is the number of steps per week. Secondary outcomes include automatic approach-avoidance tendencies toward sedentary and physical activity stimuli, explicit affective attitudes toward physical activity, physical function, and quality of life. Discussion: The study is expected to inform public-health policies and improve interventions aiming to counteract the pandemic of physical inactivity.

Pandemic related changes in social interaction are associated with changes in automatic approach-avoidance behaviour

People’s natural tendencies to either approach or avoid different stimuli in their environment are considered fundamental motivators of human behaviour. There is a wealth of research exploring how changes in approach and avoidance motivational orientations impact behaviour with consequences for wellbeing. However, research has seldom explored this relationship in reverse. The COVID-19 pandemic offered a unique opportunity to explore whether widespread changes in social behaviour are associated with changes in automatic approach-avoidance tendencies over time. We gathered online survey data on people’s adherence to 7 of the prescribed social restrictions set out by the UK government and people’s automatic approach-avoidance tendencies in response to different stimuli (sad/happy faces and social scenes) at three time points during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reduced-overall-interaction (digital and in person) was found to be significantly associated with faster avoidance relative to approach of sad faces. The results suggest that automatic approach-avoidance tendencies may function to protect people against the typically negative experience of reduced social interaction, with important implications for understanding public resilience during times of crisis, and beyond.

Automatic approach-avoidance tendency toward physical activity, sedentary, and neutral stimuli as a function of age, explicit affective attitude, and intention to be active

Using computerized reaction-time tasks assessing automatic attitudes, studies have shown that healthy young adults have faster reaction times when approaching physical activity stimuli than when avoiding them. The opposite has been observed for sedentary stimuli. However, it is unclear whether these results hold across the lifespan and when error rates and a possible generic approach-avoidance tendency are accounted for. Here, reaction times and errors in online approach-avoidance tasks of 130 participants aged 21 to 77 years were analyzed using mixed-effects models. Automatic approach-avoidance tendencies were tested using physical activity, sedentary, and neutral stimuli. Explicit attitudes toward physical activity and intention to be physically active were self-reported. Results accounting for age, sex, gender, level of physical activity, body mass index, and chronic health condition confirmed a main tendency to approach physical activity stimuli (i.e., faster reaction to approach vs. avoid; p = .001) and to avoid sedentary stimuli (i.e., faster reaction to avoid vs. approach; p < .001). Results based on neutral stimuli revealed a generic approach tendency in early adulthood (i.e., faster approach before age 53 and fewer errors before age 36) and a generic avoidance tendency in older adults (i.e., more errors after age 60). When accounting for these generic tendencies, results showed a greater tendency (i.e., fewer errors) to avoid than approach sedentary stimuli after aged 50, but not before (p = .026). Exploratory analyses showed that irrespective of age, participants were faster at approaching physical activity (p = .028) and avoiding sedentary stimuli (p = .041) when they considered physical activity as pleasant and enjoyable (explicit attitude). However, results showed no evidence of an association between approach-avoidance tendencies and the intention to be physically active. Taken together, these results suggest that both age and explicit attitudes can affect the general tendency to approach physical activity stimuli and to avoid sedentary stimuli.

Approach and avoidance bias for thin-ideal and normal-weight body shapes in anorexia nervosa.

The two studies aimed to examine implicit affective evaluations of thin-ideal and normal-weight body shapes in women with anorexia nervosa (AN), taking identification with body shapes into account. In study 1, approach-avoidance bias for thin-ideal and normal-weight bodies was assessed in 40 women with AN and 40 healthy women by using an Approach-Avoidance Task and female avatar bodies with a standard face as stimuli. In study 2, 39 women with AN and 38 healthy women underwent a similar task but identification with bodies was manipulated by presenting bodies once with the participant's own face and once with another woman's face. In study 1, patients with AN did not differ from healthy participants in their automatic approach-avoidance tendencies towards thin-ideal and normal-weight bodies. In study 2, no definite approach bias for a thin self and no avoidance bias for thin other women or for a normal-weight self were found. However, as compared to healthy women, those with AN showed a less positive implicit evaluation of thin other women, and an implicit preference for thin bodies depicted as themselves over thin bodies depicted as another woman. The findings suggest that intra-sexual competition for being slim is increased in AN.

Oxytocin Normalizes Approach-Avoidance Behavior in Women With Borderline Personality Disorder.

Background: Interpersonal deficits are a core symptom of borderline personality disorder (BPD), which could be related to increased social threat sensitivity and a tendency to approach rather than avoid interpersonal threats. The neuropeptide oxytocin has been shown to reduce threat sensitivity in patients with BPD and to modify approach–avoidance behavior in healthy volunteers.Methods: In a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled between-subject design, 53 unmedicated women with BPD and 61 healthy women participated in an approach–avoidance task 75 min after intranasal substance administration (24 IU of oxytocin or placebo). The task assesses automatic approach–avoidance tendencies in reaction to facial expressions of happiness and anger.Results: While healthy participants responded faster to happy than angry faces, the opposite response pattern, that is, faster reactions to angry than happy faces, was found in patients with BPD. In the oxytocin condition, the “congruency effect” (i.e., faster avoidance of facial anger and approach of facial happiness vice versa) was increased in both groups. Notably, patients with BPD exhibited a congruency effect toward angry faces in the oxytocin but not in the placebo condition.Conclusions: This is the second report of deficient fast, automatic avoidance responses in terms of approach behavior toward interpersonal threat cues in patients with BPD. Intranasally administered oxytocin was found to strengthen avoidance behavior to social threat cues and, thus, to normalize fast action tendencies in BPD. Together with the previously reported oxytocinergic reduction of social threat hypersensitivity, these results suggest beneficial effects of oxytocin on interpersonal dysfunctioning in BPD.

Assessment of Automatically Activated Approach–Avoidance Biases Across Appetitive Substances

Automatic approach–avoidance tendencies drive excessive intake of drugs and unhealthy food. Dual-process models of behaviour propose that strong approach biases predict excessive intake when reflective processes are weak. Consistent with theory, early findings indicated that approach biases predicted excessive use of drugs, including alcohol and tobacco. Given that reviews on approach bias for appetitive substances are lacking, the current review aimed to synthesise the recent findings on automatic approach biases across three of the most commonly assessed substances: alcohol, food and tobacco. The findings suggest that approach biases exist for a range of substances, are mostly stronger in clinical samples than healthy controls and predict consumption behaviour, albeit under certain conditions. Approach biases for appetitive substances are related to excessive consumption in line with theoretical premises. Further longitudinal research is needed, particularly in the domains of tobacco and food, to determine the prediction of consumption of these substances over time. Nevertheless, the findings highlight a continued need for approach bias modification techniques aimed at changing this underlying mechanism.

The predictive value of Approach and Avoidance tendencies on the onset and course of depression and anxiety disorders.

BackgroundTrait and automatic approach‐avoidance (AA) tendencies are central concepts in research on affective disorders. We longitudinally examined the associations of trait and automatic AA tendencies with the risk of onset and chronicity of anxiety and depressive disorders.MethodsParticipants were subdivided into those with (n = 766) versus without (n = 1,636) a current anxiety or depression diagnosis at baseline. Clinical diagnoses were reassessed after 2‐year follow‐up. Automatic AA tendencies in reaction to facial expressions were assessed using the Approach‐Avoidance Task, whereas self‐reported trait AA tendencies were assessed using the Behavioral Inhibition System and the Behavioral Activation System scales. Analyses were adjusted for socio‐demographics (basic adjustment) and for severity and history of psychopathology (full adjustment).ResultsStronger trait avoidance tendencies predicted both increased risk of onset and increased risk of a chronic course of anxiety disorders after full adjustment (Odds ratioonset = 1.55, P < .001, and Odds ratiochronicity = 1.31, P = .03). The associations between stronger trait avoidance tendencies and increased risk of onset and chronicity of depressive disorders were no longer significant after full adjustment. In contrast, trait approach tendencies and automatic AA tendencies were not related to onset or chronicity of disorders.ConclusionsIncreased trait avoidance tendencies are a risk factor for affective disorders in general, with possibly a slightly more pronounced role in anxiety than depressive disorders. This underlines the importance of addressing trait avoidance tendencies in both the treatment and aftercare of affective disorders.

Automatic approach-avoidance tendencies as a candidate intermediate phenotype for depression: Associations with childhood trauma and the 5-HTTLPR transporter polymorphism.

Depression risk genes in combination with childhood events have been associated with biased processing as an intermediate phenotype for depression. The aim of the present conceptual replication study was to investigate the role of biased automatic approach-avoidance tendencies as a candidate intermediate phenotype for depression, in the context of genes (5-HTTLPR polymorphism) and childhood trauma. A naturalistic remitted depressed patients sample (N = 209) performed an Approach-Avoidance Task (AAT) with facial expressions (angry, sad, happy and neutral). Childhood trauma was assessed with a questionnaire. Genotype groups were created based on allele frequency: LaLa versus S/Lg-carriers. The latter is associated with depression risk. We found that remitted S/Lg-carriers who experienced childhood trauma automatically avoided sad facial expressions relatively more than LaLa homozygotes with childhood trauma. Remitted LaLa-carriers who had not experienced childhood trauma, avoided sad faces relatively more than LaLa homozygotes with childhood trauma. We did not find a main effect of childhood trauma, nor differential avoidance of any of the other facial expressions. Although tentative, the results suggest that automatic approach-avoidance tendencies for disorder-congruent materials may be a fitting intermediate phenotype for depression. The specific pattern of tendencies, and the relation to depression, may depend on the genetic risk profile and childhood trauma, but replication is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.

S.03.01 - Neuro-endocrine control mechanisms in social motivational actions, relevance for social psychopathologies

S.03.01 - Neuro-endocrine control mechanisms in social motivational actions, relevance for social psychopathologies

Approach and avoidance tendencies in depression and anxiety disorders

Anxiety is linked to increased avoidance and inhibition, whereas depression is linked to decreased approach and diminished behavioral activation. Although these notions are widely recognized, systematic investigation of approach-avoidance tendencies is lacking across these diagnostic groups. Participants (mean age = 45.6; 65.8% female) were subdivided in healthy controls (405), remitted patients (877) and currently anxious (217), depressed (154) or comorbid (154) patients. Automatic approach-avoidance tendencies in reaction to facial expression were assessed using the Approach-Avoidance-Task (AAT). Self-reported trait approach and avoidance tendencies were assessed using the BIS/BAS scale. Severity of psychopathology was assessed to examine dose-response relationships. We did not find any consistent associations of automatic approach-avoidance tendencies with psychiatric variables. In contrast, medium to large differences in BIS scores showed increased trait avoidance tendencies in all patient groups relative to healthy controls. Overall, it seems that increased trait avoidance, rather than decreased approach, is a characteristic of affective disorders. This holds for both depressed and anxious patients and more strongly so in severe and chronic patients. It underlines the importance to address trait avoidance tendencies in the treatment of affective disorders.

Combat PTSD and Implicit Behavioral Tendencies for Positive Affective Stimuli: A Brief Report.

Background: Prior cognitive research in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has focused on automatic responses to negative affective stimuli, including attentional facilitation or disengagement and avoidance action tendencies. More recent research suggests PTSD may also relate to differences in reward processing, which has lead to theories of PTSD relating to approach-avoidance imbalances. The current pilot study assessed how combat-PTSD symptoms relate to automatic behavioral tendencies to both positive and negative affective stimuli.Method: Twenty male combat veterans completed the approach-avoidance task (AAT), Clinician Administered PTSD Scale, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-II. During the AAT, subjects pulled (approach) or pushed (avoid) a joystick in response to neutral, happy, disgust, and angry faces based on border color. Bias scores were calculated for each emotion type (avoid-approach response latency differences). Main and interaction effects for psychological symptom severity and emotion type on bias score were assessed using linear mixed models.Results: There was a significant interaction between PTSD symptoms and emotion type, driven primarily by worse symptoms relating to a greater bias to avoid happy faces. Post hoc tests revealed that veterans with worse PTSD symptoms were slower to approach as well as quicker to avoid happy faces. Neither depressive nor anger symptoms related to avoid or approach tendencies of emotional stimuli.Conclusion: Posttraumatic stress disorder severity was associated with a bias for avoiding positive affective stimuli. These results provide further evidence that PTSD may relate to aberrant processing of positively valenced, or rewarding stimuli. Implicit responses to rewarding stimuli could be an important factor in PTSD pathology and treatment. Specifically, these findings have implications for recent endeavors in using computer-based interventions to influence automatic approach-avoidance tendencies.

N1 and N2 ERPs reflect the regulation of automatic approach tendencies to positive stimuli

The Approach–Avoidance Task (AAT) measures automatic approach–avoidance tendencies and their regulation: compatible reactions (approach positive, avoid negative) are faster than incompatible ones (approach negative, avoid positive). The present study assessed event-related potentials (ERPs) in 15 healthy persons for depicting neuropsychological sub-processes of such stimulus-response compatibility (SRC) effects.Early attention allocation preparing efficient stimulus classification (N1 ERP) and response inhibition on the level of response representations (N2 ERP) were found to underlie the solution of the AAT-conflict. For positive stimuli, these processes were enhanced during the incompatible condition avoid positive compared to the compatible condition approach positive. Source localization analysis revealed activity in right occipital areas (N1 ERP), and in left DLPFC and insula (N2 ERP) to be neuronal generators of these electrophysiological SRC effects. This neuronal regulation resulted in no influence of incompatibility at the behavioural level. For negative pictures, we found the reversed pattern: there were no electrophysiological SRC effects, but clear behavioural SRC effects in both RTs and error frequency, i.e. participants were faster and made fewer errors during avoiding than approaching negative pictures. These valence-specific differences are in line with previous studies indicating negative stimuli – probably due to higher importance for survival – to more strongly influence behaviour.

Training approach-avoidance of smiling faces affects emotional vulnerability in socially anxious individuals

Previous research revealed an automatic behavioral bias in high socially anxious individuals (HSAs): although their explicit evaluations of smiling faces are positive, they show automatic avoidance of these faces. This is reflected by faster pushing than pulling of smiling faces in an Approach-Avoidance Task (AAT; Heuer et al., 2007). The current study addressed the causal role of this avoidance bias for social anxiety. To this end, we used the AAT to train HSAs, either to approach smiling faces or to avoid them. We examined whether such an AAT training could change HSAs' automatic avoidance tendencies, and if yes, whether AAT effects would generalize to a new approach task with new facial stimuli, and to mood and anxiety in a social threat situation (a video-recorded self-presentation). We found that HSAs trained to approach smiling faces did indeed approach female faces faster after the training than HSAs trained to avoid smiling faces. Moreover, approach-faces training reduced emotional vulnerability: it led to more positive mood and lower anxiety after the self-presentation than avoid-faces training. These results suggest that automatic approach-avoidance tendencies have a causal role in social anxiety, and that they can be modified by a simple computerized training. This may open new avenues in the therapy of social phobia.

On taming horses and strengthening riders: Recent developments in research on interventions to improve self-control in health behaviors

This article reviews recent developments in the design of interventions to improve health behavior. Based on dual-system models we classify intervention strategies according to whether they aim at: (i) changing impulsive structures; (ii) improving the ability to self-control; or (iii) changing reflective structures. We review recent work on re-training of automatic associations, attentional biases, and automatic approach–avoidance tendencies, training of self-control and executive functioning, and taxonomic work on health behavior intervention techniques. The theoretical framework as well as the empirical evidence suggest that a combination of both established and newly developed intervention techniques may prove fruitful for future intervention programs. However, several techniques are still in their infancy and more research is needed before clear recommendations can be given.

Men on the “Pull”

In the present study, we adapted and validated a measure of automatic approach-avoidance tendencies toward sexual stimuli in a male heterosexual sample (N = 29). As expected, automatic approach-avoidance tendencies, as measured via push and pull reactions in a joystick task, primarily predicted an unobtrusive measure of the time participants viewed erotic slides but not a more deliberate measure of forced-choice between an erotic and an art calendar. Conversely, participants’ explicit attitudes primarily predicted the forced-choice measure but not viewing time. Furthermore, automatic approach-avoidance tendencies discriminated reliably between those participants who were and those who were not currently engaged in a romantic relationship.

Proximity seeking in adult attachment: Examining the role of automatic approach–avoidance tendencies

In two experiments, participants made symbolic approach and avoidance movements towards or away from attachment figure- and acquaintance-related cues after being primed with a distressing or a non-distressing context. Results showed that automatic approach responses towards the attachment figure were stronger in a distressing than in a non-distressing context, regardless of whether the source of distress was attachment-relevant or -irrelevant and regardless of one's attachment style. Individual differences in attachment anxiety and avoidance were associated with the predicted patterns of approach-avoidance tendencies: attachment anxiety heightened the tendency to approach the attachment Figure (Experiments 1 and 2), whereas attachment avoidance reduced this tendency (Experiment 2). Findings are discussed as providing first evidence on the role of automatic action tendencies in adult attachment.