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Published on: October 3, 2020
The effect of modifying automatic action tendencies on overt avoidance behaviors
Nader Amir1, Jennie M Kuckertz, Sadia Najmi
1Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego, CA 92120-4913, USA. namir@mail.sdsu.edu
Emotion (Washington, D.C.)
|November 21, 2012
Summary
This study shows that manipulating automatic action tendencies can reduce avoidance of feared objects. Modifying these automatic responses may help in overcoming fear-related behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Automatic action tendencies are rapid, often unconscious, behavioral responses.
- These tendencies are thought to play a role in maintaining various psychological conditions, including phobias.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal role of automatic action tendencies in fear-related avoidance behavior.
- To determine if manipulating automatic approach tendencies can reduce avoidance of feared stimuli.
Main Methods:
- The Approach-Avoidance Task (AAT) was employed to assess automatic action tendencies.
- Participants were assigned to either an active condition (contingency manipulation) or a control condition.
- Behavioral approach tests were used to measure avoidance of contamination-related stimuli.
Main Results:
- Participants in the active manipulation group demonstrated facilitated automatic approach tendencies towards contamination-related stimuli.
- Avoidance tendencies for feared objects were reduced in the active group compared to the control group.
- The active group showed increased approach behavior in subsequent behavioral tests.
Conclusions:
- Automatic action tendencies are significantly involved in the maintenance of fear-related avoidance.
- Targeting and modifying automatic action tendencies may be a viable therapeutic strategy for phobias and anxiety disorders.
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