University of Sussex
Browse
2014_(Reynolds_et_al.,_Emotion).pdf (314.31 kB)

Effect of vicarious fear learning on children's heart rate responses and attentional bias for novel animals

Download (314.31 kB)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 22:00 authored by Gemma Reynolds, Andy FieldAndy Field, Chris Askew
Research with children has shown that vicarious learning can result in changes to 2 of Lang's (1968) 3 anxiety response systems: subjective report and behavioral avoidance. The current study extended this research by exploring the effect of vicarious learning on physiological responses (Lang's final response system) and attentional bias. The study used Askew and Field's (2007) vicarious learning procedure and demonstrated fear-related increases in children's cognitive, behavioral, and physiological responses. Cognitive and behavioral changes were retested 1 week and 1 month later, and remained elevated. In addition, a visual search task demonstrated that fear-related vicarious learning creates an attentional bias for novel animals, which is moderated by increases in fear beliefs during learning. The findings demonstrate that vicarious learning leads to lasting changes in all 3 of Lang's anxiety response systems and is sufficient to create attentional bias to threat in children.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Emotion

ISSN

1528-3542

Publisher

America Psychological Association

Issue

5

Volume

14

Page range

995-1006

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2015-08-03

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2015-08-03

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2015-08-03

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Licence

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC