Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2025
09:00
Investigating Pain-Related Avoidance Behavior using a Robotic Arm-Reaching Paradigm
Published on: October 3, 2020
3.9K
Observational threat learning influences costly avoidance behaviour in healthy humans
Madeleine Mueller1, Oded Cohen2, Tomer Shechner2
1Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (Germany), Martinistr.52, 20251, Hamburg, Germany. dr.madmueller@gmail.com.
Scientific Reports
|July 28, 2024
Summary
Observational threat learning shapes avoidance behavior. Participants learned to avoid danger after observing others, influencing their movement patterns and decisions, especially when effort was involved.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Avoidance behavior is crucial for safety in hazardous environments.
- Observational threat learning allows individuals to learn dangers without direct experience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the behavioral effects of observational threat learning.
- To examine how learned threats influence approach-avoidance decisions and movement patterns.
Main Methods:
- An online study with 89 participants.
- Involved an observational threat learning task, fear/discomfort/arousal ratings, and a 24-hour delayed retrieval test.
- A computerized avoidance task assessed navigation choices based on learned threat associations.
Main Results:
- Observational threat learning significantly impacted avoidance behavior and decision-making.
- Participants exhibited thigmotaxis (staying near walls) and took extra steps, influenced by baseline effort.
- Movement patterns indirectly mediated the total number of steps taken.
Conclusions:
- Observational threat learning effectively shapes avoidance strategies in humans.
- Effort level plays a role in how learned threats influence navigation and decision-making.
- Findings offer insights into avoidance learning and behavior in healthy individuals.
Related Concept Videos
02:30Naturalistic Observations
15.4K
If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...
15.4K
01:14Avoidance Learning and Learned Helplessness
1.7K
Avoidance learning and learned helplessness are critical concepts in understanding behavioral responses to negative stimuli.
Avoidance learning occurs when an organism learns that a specific behavior can prevent an unpleasant outcome. For example, a student who receives a bad grade may start studying harder to avoid future poor grades. This behavior persists even when the negative outcome is no longer present. Avoidance learning is powerful because it maintains behavior in the absence of the...
Avoidance learning occurs when an organism learns that a specific behavior can prevent an unpleasant outcome. For example, a student who receives a bad grade may start studying harder to avoid future poor grades. This behavior persists even when the negative outcome is no longer present. Avoidance learning is powerful because it maintains behavior in the absence of the...
1.7K
01:12Observational Learning
158
Albert Bandura's observational learning, also known as imitation or modeling, occurs when a person observes and imitates another's behavior. It is a quicker process than operant conditioning. A well-known example is the Bobo doll study, where children who saw an adult acting aggressively towards the doll were more likely to act aggressively when left alone, compared to those who observed a nonaggressive adult. Many psychologists view observational learning as a form of latent learning...
158
01:11Observational Studies
8.4K
Observational studies are a type of analytical study where researchers observe events without any interventions. In other words, the researcher does not influence the response variable or the experiment's outcome.
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One...
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One...
8.4K
01:21Cognitive Learning
237
Cognitive learning is based on purposive behavior, incidental learning, and insight learning.
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
237
01:31Confirmation Biases
5.5K
The confirmation bias is the tendency to focus on information that confirms our existing beliefs and ignore information that is inconsistent with our expectations. For example, if you think that your professor is not very nice, you notice all of the instances of rude behavior exhibited by the professor while ignoring the countless pleasant interactions he is involved in on a daily basis. Have you ever fallen prey to the confirmation bias, either as the source or target of such bias?
5.5K