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Human Fear Conditioning Conducted in Full Immersion 3-Dimensional Virtual Reality
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Social comparison modulates coping with fear in virtual environments.

Isabel L Kampmann1, Thomas Meyer1, Nexhmedin Morina1

  • 1Institute of Psychology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster, Fliednerstraße 21, 48149 Münster, Germany.

Journal of Anxiety Disorders
|May 4, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Social comparison can reduce anxiety and phobic symptoms in fearful situations. Upward assimilation significantly lowered acute anxiety and phobic responses compared to control groups.

Keywords:
AnxietyAssimilationFear of flyingFear of heightsSocial comparisonVirtual reality

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Social Psychology

Background:

  • Social comparison influences adaptive behavior in threatening contexts.
  • Understanding how social comparison standards affect anxiety is crucial for managing fear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of upward assimilation (UA) and downward assimilation (DA) social comparison on acute anxiety and phobic symptoms.
  • To examine the role of social comparison in virtual reality fear-inducing scenarios.

Main Methods:

  • 159 participants with fear of flying or heights were randomly assigned to UA, DA, or control conditions.
  • Participants experienced a virtual reality fear scenario (flying or heights).
  • Anxiety levels and phobic symptoms were measured before, during, and after exposure.

Main Results:

  • Upward assimilation (UA) significantly attenuated increases in acute anxiety compared to the control group.
  • The downward assimilation (DA) condition showed no significant difference in anxiety changes.
  • Participants in the UA condition reported fewer phobic symptoms post-assessment than both DA and control groups.

Conclusions:

  • Social comparison, particularly upward assimilation, can effectively modulate coping mechanisms in fearful situations.
  • Findings suggest potential for social comparison strategies in treating anxiety disorders.
  • Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms and therapeutic applications of social comparison.