Induced mood, phobic responding and the return of fear
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 9, 2026

Investigating Pain-Related Avoidance Behavior using a Robotic Arm-Reaching Paradigm
Published on: October 3, 2020
1University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, England.
Abstract:
The link between depression and phobic responding is poorly understood. Forty-eight spider phobics were exposed to videotaped spider sequences whilst in relatively depressed or relatively elated moods, then presented the same stimuli whilst in a neutral mood. Results indicated that depressed mood increased initial responding, and was associated with greater return of fear during the second (non-mood) sequence. The return of fear was not attributable solely to differential habituation rates during the first sequence, suggesting that the differences observed may have been due to cognitive effects.
Related Concept Videos
Preparedness and Phobias
Facial Feedback Hypothesis
Desensitization and Tachyphylaxis
Several...
Avoidance Learning and Learned Helplessness
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...

