The effects of anxious arousal on fear, fear reduction, and the return of fear

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the applicability of several habituation models to fear processes with special reference to the effects of anxious arousal on fear, fear reduction, and the return of fear. The effects of anxious arousal on self-efficacy expectations were also explored. Seventy-six female undergraduate students who reported a fear of snakes and met a minimum criterion of fear on a Behavioral Approach Test participated in the study. Subjects viewed a videotaped fear reduction program under either control or anxious arousal conditions. Fear and self-efficacy expectations were assessed repeatedly during the first session. During a follow-up session one month later, subjects were re-exposed to the feared stimulus under either control or anxious arousal conditions. Although anxious arousal did not affect fear levels within-session, experiencing anxious arousal during fear reduction impeded reduction of subjective fear and, paradoxically, resulted in less heart rate response upon exposure to the feared stimulus following fear reduction. Return of subjective fear was experienced by all of the subjects except those who experienced fear reduction while in an anxious state and follow-up assessment in a calm state. These subjects experienced a substantial decrement in self-reported fear at follow-up. There was a failure to find a relationship between anxious arousal and self-efficacy. The results were interpreted in terms of several habituation models. It was concluded that the results are better understood in terms of emotional processing models of fear. Novel findings include evidence that: anxious arousal during fear modification impedes the return of fear, and that assessment in a calm state, following fear reduction while in an anxious state, blocks the return of fear. These findings are theoretically and clinically important. The implications of the results to self-efficacy theory were discussed. The clinical implications of the findings were also explored with special reference to relapse.Arts, Faculty ofPsychology, Department ofGraduat