Fear-relevant selective associations and covariation bias.

摘要: Three experiments used an illusory correlation paradigm to assess the effects of fear on perception covariation between fear-relevant stimuli and shock. In Experiment 1, high- low-fear women were exposed 72 trials during each which a (snake or spider) fear-irrelevant (mushroom flower) slide was followed by shock, tone, nothing. Although relation types outcomes random, high-fear subjects markedly overestimated contingency feared slides 2 showed that this bias due aversive, rather than more generally salient, features Low-fear demonstrated biases equivalent those only when base rate shock increased from 33% 50% in 3. It is concluded may be linked serve confirm fear. The relevance present findings preparedness theory also discussed.