Self-reported Fear Research Articles

Enhanced Mental Reinstatement of Exposure to Improve Extinction Generalization: A Study on Claustrophobia and MRI Fear

Fear of enclosed spaces prevents many people from receiving magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Although exposure therapy can effectively treat such fears, reductions in fear during exposure often do not generalize beyond the context in which they took place. This study tested a strategy designed to increase generalization, which involved revisiting the memory of a prior exposure to enhance retrieval of extinction learning. Forty-five participants with claustrophobia that included fear of MRI scans underwent a series of exposures lying inside a narrow cabinet. One week later, participants were randomly assigned to enhanced mental reinstatement (EMR) or control procedures. Prior to entering a mock MRI scanner, EMR participants recalled the memory of exposure training and listened to an audio recording of themselves describing what they learned, whereas control participants recalled a neutral memory. Compared to the control condition, EMR led to significantly reduced heart rate reactivity in the mock MRI scanner, but not self-reported fear or avoidance. There were no differences between conditions in claustrophobia symptoms or MRI fear at 1-month follow-up. Results suggest some benefits of mental reinstatement for improving generalization of gains following exposure training for claustrophobia, with measures of subjective fear and physiological arousal showing discordant outcomes.

Measuring distinct emotional states implicitly: The role of response speed.

Affective science offers many self-report measures, but implicit measures of multiple distinct emotional states are lacking. Prior research (Bartoszek & Cervone, 2017) initiated the development of such an assessment method by examining whether ratings of the emotional content of abstract images reveal raters' emotional states. The current studies were designed to determine whether the speed of these ratings is key to the validity of an implicit emotion measure. To this end, Study 1 exploited naturally occurring variations in response times, whereas Study 2 used time pressure in responding to the implicit measure. Both studies featured a fear-induction and revealed that implicitly assessed fear correlated with psychophysiological (Study 1) and behavioral (Studies 1 and 2) responses even when controlling for self-reported fear. Importantly, results supported the construct, criterion, and incremental validity of the implicit measure only among participants who responded quickly. Study 3 employed a sadness-induction and an experimental manipulation of response times using fast- and slow-paced conditions. The emotion induction affected fast, but not slow, responses to the implicit measure. Overall, findings highlight the importance of response speed in implicit emotion assessment and suggest that the Implicit Measure of Distinct Emotional States can validly differentiate among emotions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Fear in the Theater of the Mind: Differential Fear Conditioning With Imagined Stimuli

Many symptoms of anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder are elicited by fearful mental imagery. Yet little is known about how visual imagery of conditioned stimuli (CSs) affects the acquisition of differential fear conditioning. Across three experiments with younger human adults (Experiment 1: n = 33, Experiment 2: n = 27, Experiment 3: n = 26), we observed that participants acquired differential fear conditioning to both viewed and imagined percepts serving as the CSs, as measured via self-reported fear and skin conductance responses. Additionally, this differential conditioning generalized across CS-percept modalities such that differential conditioning acquired in response to visual percepts generalized to the corresponding imagined percepts and vice versa. This is novel evidence that perceived and imagined stimuli engage learning processes in very similar ways and is consistent with the theory that mental imagery is depictive and recruits neural resources shared with visual perception. Our findings also provide new insight into the mechanisms of anxiety and related disorders.

Achievement motivation in students' everyday lives: Its relationship to momentary positive and negative activation and the moderating role of mindfulness

In achievement motive theory, need for achievement is conceptualized as an explanatory variable that triggers certain experiences and behaviors spontaneously. Experience sampling should therefore be an ideal approach for capturing such motive-specific affective contingencies. However, given that not all students seem to be aware of their underlying motives, the link between self-reported need for achievement and daily experiences may depend on their mindfulness level. In a sample of university students (N = 107), self-reported fear of failure predicted momentary negative activation across activity contexts in everyday life. In addition, hope of success predicted positive activation in more mindful students and in nonroutine situations (e.g., studying, working, or leisure time). Together, these findings are a first step toward illuminating the phenomenological and excitatory nature of need for achievement in students' everyday lives and illustrate the necessity of noticing motive-specific cues in order to integrate them into the explicit motivational self-concept.

Visual Tailoring and Skin Cancer Prevention: Comparing Personalized, Stock, and Non-Ultraviolet Images

ABSTRACT Past research has demonstrated that ultraviolet (UV) photos – which reveal skin damage as dark patches – can increase preventive behaviors. Emerging camera technology facilitates personalized UV photos for interventions, yet little is known about how personalized photos compare to other visuals and what cognitive or affective mechanism explains their persuasive impact. To engage this research line, the current study compared the impact of personalized UV (PUV), stock UV (SUV), and non-UV (NUV) photos and, to advance theorizing on fear appeals, explored underlying affective mechanisms including physiological fear. A sample of 169 undergraduate students participated in a 3 (Visual conditions: PUV, SUV, NUV) × 2 (Efficacy conditions: No efficacy and Efficacy) between-participants message experiment on a computer equipped with iMotions 6.4 that tracked real-time physiological responses (facial expression and skin conductance). Results demonstrated that PUV skin damage photos produced significantly greater self-reported fear and positive valence (detected by facial expression analysis) than NUV and SUV visuals. Mediation analysis demonstrated that fear had a significant indirect effect on the relationship between exposure to PUV skin damage visuals and behavior expectations.

Power-Related Emotions, Alcohol Intoxication, and Nonconsensual Sex Intentions: The Role of Fear of Intimacy.

The problem of alcohol-involved sexual assault against women highlights the need to identify how the presence of alcohol interacts with risk factors associated with sexual assault perpetration. One risk factor for sexual assault perpetration is fear of intimacy, the inhibited capacity to exchange vulnerable thoughts and emotions with a valued individual. Men who have perpetrated sexual violence report higher fear of intimacy and alcohol use than those who have not. However, little research has investigated how fear of intimacy may contribute to sexual assault perpetration in the context of alcohol intoxication. This study examined alcohol intoxication, fear of intimacy, proximal power-related emotions, and nonconsensual sex intentions. Non-monogamous, male social drinkers (N = 94) completed measures and were randomly assigned to an alcohol condition (alcohol [BrAC = .10%] versus control). Participants then read a sexual assault analogue scenario depicting sexual assault against a hypothetical woman and reported power-related emotions and nonconsensual sex intentions. Self-reported fear of intimacy differed across types of past perpetration. Results found that for intoxicated men only, fear of intimacy was positively associated with power-related emotions, and power-related emotions were positively associated with nonconsensual sex intentions. These associations were not observed for men in the control condition who did not consume alcohol. Future research should examine intimacy-related interventions for sexual assault prevention programming.

Pain catastrophizing, pain sensitivity and fear of pain are associated with early life environmental unpredictability: a path model approach

BackgroundSocioeconomic disadvantages in the childhood environment might strongly influence beliefs and behavior characterizing the adult years. When children experience unpredictable and adverse situations, they develop an unpredictability schema with the core belief that situations are unpredictable.MethodsIn two studies, we examined the association of childhood socioeconomic disadvantages with self-reported pain sensitivity, pain catastrophizing, and pain-related fear. Multidimensional survey measures were used to assess environmental conditions experienced in childhood. In addition, participants completed the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire, Body Awareness Questionnaire, Unpredictability Schema Questionnaire, and Fear of Pain Questionnaire. In Study 1 (N = 252), in separate models, we examined pain sensitivity and pain catastrophizing of a community sample of pain-free young individuals in association with their childhood experiences. In Study 2 (N = 293), in a new sample, but with a wider age range, we examined the association of early life socioeconomic disadvantages with pain-related fear. In both studies, the predictions were tested with Structural Equation Modeling. Our models constituted a path from childhood socioeconomic status and household unpredictability to pain variables via the factors of family resources, unpredictability schemas, and body awareness.Results and conclusionsThe findings converged on the conclusion that individuals experiencing disadvantageous early life conditions tended to have an elevated level of pain catastrophizing, higher perceived sensitivity to pain, and higher level of pain-related fear. These associations were mediated by an unpredictability schema and body awareness.

Association Between Free-Living Sit-to-Stand Transition Characteristics, and Lower-Extremity Performance, Fear of Falling, and Stair Negotiation Difficulties Among Community-Dwelling 75 to 85-Year-Old Adults.

BackgroundGood sit-to-stand (STS) performance is an important factor in maintaining functional independence. This study investigated whether free-living STS transition volume and intensity, assessed by a thigh-worn accelerometer, is associated with characteristics related to functional independence.MethodsFree-living thigh-worn accelerometry was recorded continuously for 3–7 days in a population-based sample of 75-, 80-, and 85-year-old community-dwelling people (479 participants; women n = 287, men n = 192). The records were used to evaluate the number and intensity (angular velocity of the STS phase) of STS transitions. Associations with short physical performance battery (SPPB), 5-times-sit-to-stand test (5×STS), isometric knee extension force, self-reported fear of falls, and self-reported difficulty in negotiating stairs were also assessed.ResultsThe number of STS transitions, mean and maximal angular velocity were lower in older age groups (p < .05). All variables were higher in men than in women (p < .001) and were positively associated with SPPB total points, knee extension force (r ranged from 0.18 to 0.39, all p < .001) and negatively associated with 5×STS (r = −0.13 – −0.24, all p < .05), lower extremity functional limitations (p < .01), fear of falls (p < .01), and stair negotiation difficulties (p < .01).ConclusionsFree-living STS characteristics were related to lower-extremity performance, lower extremity functional limitations, self-reported fear of falls, and stair negotiation difficulties, which can be a sensitive indicator of impending functional decline. Moreover, STS transitions may provide an indicator of adequacy of lower-limb muscle strength among older individuals.

Affirmative Consent on campus: student understanding, perceptions of effectiveness, and behavioral change

ABSTRACT Affirmative Consent (AC) policies have become a popular way for universities across the US to address the issue of sexual assault on campus. This study utilizes a sample of over 1400 university students to address student self-identified understanding of AC, perceptions of AC policy effectiveness at decreasing sexual assaults on campus, and self-reported behavior change. Results show that about 80% of the sample reported understanding AC, a slight majority of the sample (53%) believed AC policies were effective, and only 20.5% of respondents reported changing their own behavior as a result of AC policies. Exposure to AC through professors or administrators increased AC understanding and perceptions of effectiveness. Knowing others who changed their own behavior was significantly related to understanding of AC, perceived effectiveness of AC, and personal self-reported behavior change. Additionally, issue salience as measured through self-reported concern about sexual assault on campus and self-reported fear of sexual assault on campus was related to perceived effectiveness and self-reported behavior change. Multivariate analyses explored these issues further and raise questions of the ability of these policies alone to combat sexual assault on campus.

Maternal anxiety, depression and vascular function during pregnancy

ObjectiveWe aim to clarify whether type and timing of mental health symptoms in early pregnancy distinctly contribute to maternal-fetal vascular function, independent from the psychotropic medications given to treat these conditions. MethodsData from a prospective cohort study (n = 1678) were used to test whether self-reported fears about giving birth and depressive symptoms prior to 16 weeks of gestation were associated with vascular outcomes predictive of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) i.e., systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP); uterine artery pulsatility index (UAPI); umbilical artery resistance index (UmbARI); and urine protein creatinine ratio. Multiple linear regressions models and mediation models were used to test for associations between predictors and outcomes, controlling for previously identified risk factors for vascular dysfunction such as maternal age and history of infertility. ResultsFears about giving birth in early pregnancy were inversely associated with UmbARI (β = −0.33, p = 0.03, df = 51) mid- to late-pregnancy (≥20 weeks). Depressive symptoms in early pregnancy were also inversely associated with maternal systolic BP (β = −0.13, p = 0.01, df = 387) and diastolic BP (β = −0.10, p = 0.04, df = 387) during the first trimester. ConclusionsWhile fears about giving birth in early pregnancy were associated with lower vascular resistance in the fetal-placental unit, early depressive symptoms were associated with lower maternal vascular tone. At the very least, our results support the notion that early maternal psychological distress is unlikely to account for the development of HDP later during pregnancy and provide preliminary evidence to support distinct roles of pregnancy-related anxiety and depressive symptoms in maternal-fetal vascular function.

Mental imagery can generate and regulate acquired differential fear conditioned reactivity

Mental imagery is an important tool in the cognitive control of emotion. The present study tests the prediction that visual imagery can generate and regulate differential fear conditioning via the activation and prioritization of stimulus representations in early visual cortices. We combined differential fear conditioning with manipulations of viewing and imagining basic visual stimuli in humans. We discovered that mental imagery of a fear-conditioned stimulus compared to imagery of a safe conditioned stimulus generated a significantly greater conditioned response as measured by self-reported fear, the skin conductance response, and right anterior insula activity (experiment 1). Moreover, mental imagery effectively down- and up-regulated the fear conditioned responses (experiment 2). Multivariate classification using the functional magnetic resonance imaging data from retinotopically defined early visual regions revealed significant decoding of the imagined stimuli in V2 and V3 (experiment 1) but significantly reduced decoding in these regions during imagery-based regulation (experiment 2). Together, the present findings indicate that mental imagery can generate and regulate a differential fear conditioned response via mechanisms of the depictive theory of imagery and the biased-competition theory of attention. These findings also highlight the potential importance of mental imagery in the manifestation and treatment of psychological illnesses.

Young patients\u2019 self-reported fear compared to professionals\u2019 assessments during invasive and non-invasive dental visits: a prospective, longitudinal study

PurposeThe main purpose was to study young patients’ self-reports on dental fear over a 5-year period, prospectively. Also, to compare these to professionals’ proxy reports for dental fear during invasive and non-invasive dental visits. The research question was, to what extent the self-reports and dental professionals’ proxy reports are congruent, and if there were patient age-dependent differences.Methods3134 patients from 11 public dental clinics, representing urban and rural areas, were invited. Four age cohorts were formed: 3, 7, 11, and 15 years of age and followed between the years 2008 and 2012. Dental examinations (non-invasive) and restorative treatments + extractions (invasive) were registered. During the treatments, self-reports regarding fear and professional proxy reports were registered: Not afraid at all = 0, little nervous = 1, quite afraid = 2, very scared = 3, terrified = 4.Results2363 patients completed the cohort periods (51% girls and 49% boys). In all, 9708 dental examinations, restorations and extractions were performed. The fear prevalence increased with the invasiveness of the dental procedure; 7–56%. For dental examinations and restorations, fear declined with ascending age. The highest fear prevalence was reported for dental extractions. Younger children reported fear more frequently than older children, p < 0.001. Frequent inconsistencies between self-reports and proxy reports were observed among the younger children (16%) compared to the older children (8%), p < 0.001.ConclusionNon-congruence was observed for self-reports and proxy reports regarding all age cohorts.

Girls' Stuff? Maternal Gender Stereotypes and Their Daughters' Fear.

One of the most robust findings in psychopathology is the fact that specific phobias are more prevalent in women than in men. Although there are several theoretical accounts for biological and social contributions to this gender difference, empirical data are surprisingly limited. Interestingly, there is evidence that individuals with stereotypical feminine characteristics are more fearful than those with stereotypical masculine characteristics; this is beyond biological sex. Because gender role stereotypes are reinforced by parental behavior, we aimed to examine the relationship of maternal gender stereotypes and children’s fear. Dyads of 38 mothers and their daughters (between ages 6 and 10) were included. We assessed maternal implicit and explicit gender stereotypes as well as their daughters’ self-reported general fearfulness, specific fear of snakes, and approach behavior toward a living snake. First, mothers’ fear of snakes significantly correlated with their daughters’ fear of snakes. Second, mothers’ gender stereotypes significantly correlated with their daughters’ self-reported fear. Specifically, maternal implicit gender stereotypes were associated with daughters’ fear of snakes and fear ratings in response to the snake. Moreover, in children, self-reported fear correlated with avoidance of the fear-relevant animal. Together, these results provide first evidence for a potential role of parental gender stereotypes in the development and maintenance of fear in their offspring.

Assessing Automatic Approach-Avoidance Behavior in an Immersive Virtual Environment

The use of virtual reality (VR) promises enormous potential for studying human behavior. While approach and avoidance tendencies have been explored in various areas of basic and applied psychology, such as attitude and emotion research, basic learning psychology, and behavior therapy, they have rarely been studied in VR. One major focus of this research is to understand the psychological mechanisms underlying automatic behavioral tendencies towards and away from positively or negatively evaluated stimuli. We implemented a whole-body movement stimulus-response compatibility task to explore approach-avoidance behavior in an immersive virtual environment. We chose attitudinal stimuli—spiders and butterflies—on which people widely agree in their general evaluations (in that people evaluate spiders negatively and butterflies positively), while there is still substantial inter-individual variance (i. e., the intensity in which people dislike spiders or like butterflies). We implemented two parallel approach-avoidance tasks, one in VR, one desktop-based. Both tasks revealed the expected compatibility effects that were positively intercorrelated. Interestingly, however, the compatibility effect in the VR measure was unrelated to participants’ self-reported fear of spiders and stimulus evaluations. These results raise important implications about the usage of VR to study automatic behavioral tendencies.

Association of In-Lab and Free-Living Mobility Measures With Falls and Fear of Falling in Underactive Older People

Falls in older adults have significant consequences—a single fall can lead to serious injury, psychological trauma, activity restriction, and increased mortality. This study describes differences in mobility-related characteristics of underactive (<150 minutes/week of physical activity), racially diverse, older adults (65–84 years) classified by self-reported fall status (0, 1, 2+ falls in previous 12mo) and fear of falling (yes/no). We analyzed baseline data from 105 individuals (mean age=72.1 years; 73% female; 64% white, 29% Black, 12% Asian) who participated in a trial of a physical activity smartphone intervention for older people. Total minutes of daily stepping and medium-to-brisk (≥75 steps/min) and brisk (≥100) cadence bouts in free-living conditions was gathered over 3 days via ActivPal activity monitor. Gait speed was determined from a 4-meter walk test for those pretested prior to COVID-19 mandates (n=60). Of the median 81.8 minutes spent stepping daily, very few minutes involved moderate-to-brisk (14.0) or brisk cadence (10.1). Groups classified by fall status (non-fallers n=74, 1x fallers n=18, repeat fallers n=13) differed significantly in daily minutes spent in medium-to-brisk (p=0.04) and brisk cadence (p=0.02), but not in 4-meter gait speed or total minutes stepping. Individuals who reported fear of falling versus those with no fear did not differ significantly on any mobility-related parameters. Four-meter gait speed was significantly negatively correlated with both cadence measures (p=0.02) but not total minutes stepping. This study indicates that faster walking behaviors in everyday activity may be a useful target for intervention to prevent falls in underactive older adults.

Fear of COVID-19 changes economic preferences: evidence from a repeated cross-sectional MTurk survey

The personal experience of events such as financial crises and natural disasters can alter economic preferences. We administered a repeated cross-sectional preference survey during the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, collecting three bi-weekly samples from participants recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk. The survey elicits economic preferences, self-reported fear of the pandemic, and beliefs about economic and health consequences. Preferences varied over time and across regions, and self-reported fear of the pandemic explains this variation. These findings suggest caution about the generalizability of some types of experimental work during times of heightened fear.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40881-021-00111-x.

Fear of being near: Fear supersedes sociability when interacting amid a pandemic

In the COVID-19 era, physical interactions ubiquitously pose a disease threat. Using a novel online paradigm, this study tested whether under such unique circumstances, the fundamental motivation to avoid disease-related threats interacts with individual differences in sociability, such that: (i) responses to others are slowed down, particularly among sociable individuals, reflecting motivational tension; (ii) the role of sociability in predicting interaction likelihood is diminished. Participants (Israeli young adults, N = 207) listened to auditory descriptions of everyday social situations, taking place in either the physical or virtual space, and decided quickly whether to interact. Participants also completed the Sociability Scale (Cheek & Buss, 1981). Responses were slower in the physical compared to virtual space, regardless of sociability. The association between interaction likelihood and sociability was stronger in the virtual space, with sociability mirrored by self-reported fear of COVID-19 in predicting interaction likelihood. We propose that when physical contact with others poses a threat to safety, fear supersedes sociability in guiding behavior in physical interactions.

Placebo and Non-specific Effects in Reconsolidation-Based Treatment for Arachnophobia.

The idea that maladaptive memories may be rendered susceptible to interference after reactivation raises the possibility of reactivating and neutralizing clinically-relevant emotional memories. In this study, we sought to investigate the feasibility of such a “reconsolidation-based” intervention for arachnophobia, drawing upon previous research that successfully reduced fear of spiders in a subclinical sample. In Experiment 1, we piloted several reactivation procedures for conducting a reconsolidation-based treatment for arachnophobic individuals. All procedures involved some form of brief exposure to a fear-provoking spider, followed by the administration of 40 mg propranolol. In Experiment 2, we conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled assessment of one procedure tested in Experiment 1. In Experiment 1, we found that most reactivation procedures produced drops in self-reported fear of spiders from pre- to post-treatment, including fear declines that were apparent up to 6- and even 14-months later. However, in Experiment 2, we found no evidence that the participants receiving propranolol were better off than those who received placebo. While our findings are limited by the small sample sizes used, they nevertheless show a different pattern of responses than was observed in a previous reconsolidation-based intervention for subclinical spider fearful participants. Alterations to the protocol made to accommodate the clinical participants may have led to greater opportunities for non-specific effects (e.g., exposure, placebo effects) to drive change in the participants. Our findings highlight both the challenges of translating reconsolidation-based procedures into clinical interventions, as well as the importance of controls for non-specific effects in reconsolidation-based research.

Validation of a test meal paradigm to experimentally manipulate meal-related fears: A registered report.

Fear is central to conceptualizations of weight and shape-focused eating disorders. The current study will examine the reliability and validity of a test meal paradigm that varies perceptions of fat content to manipulate fear. Undergraduate women with elevated eating pathology (N= 96) will be randomized to one of three test meal conditions: two "low" fat yogurts, two "high" fat yogurts, or one "high" fat and one "low" fat yogurt. In actuality, all yogurts will have the same fat content. Supporting reliability, we hypothesize that self-reported fear and electrodermal activity (psychophysiological index of fear-related arousal) will exhibit good test-retest reliability over a 48-hr period in the "high" fat/"high" fat and "low" fat/"low" fat conditions. Supporting construct validity, self-reported fear and electrodermal activity will be elevated during the "high" versus "low" fat condition and responses to the "high" fat condition will correlate with fear of food, eating, and weight gain. Supporting discriminant validity, self-reported disgust and anger will be comparable in the "high" and "low" fat conditions and will exhibit weak correlations with trait measures of disgust and anger. This experimental paradigm will allow researchers to manipulate fear in order understand the mechanisms by which fear maintains eating pathology.

Social relevance modulates multivariate neural representations of threat generalization in children and adults.

Few studies have examined threat generalization across development and no developmental studies have compared the generalization of social versus nonsocial threat, making it difficult to identify contextual factors that contribute to threat learning across development. The present study assessed youth and adults' multivoxel neural representations of social versus nonsocial threat stimuli. Twenty adults (Mage =25.7 ± 4.9) and 16 youth (Mage =14.1±1.7) completed two conditioning and extinction recall paradigms: one social and one nonsocial paradigm. Three weeks after conditioning, participants underwent a functional magnetic resonance imaging extinction recall task that presented the extinguished threat cue (CS+), a safety cue (CS-), and generalization stimuli (GS) consisting of CS-/CS+ blends. Across age groups, neural activity patterns and self-reported fear and memory ratings followed a linear generalization gradient for social threat stimuli and a quadratic generalization gradient for nonsocial threat stimuli, indicating enhanced threat/safety discrimination for social relative to nonsocial threat stimuli. The amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex displayed the greatest neural pattern differentiation between the CS+ and GS/CS-, reinforcing their role in threat learning and extinction recall. Contrary to predictions, age did not influence threat representations. These findings highlight the importance of the social relevance of threat on generalization across development.