The relative effectiveness of extinction and counter-conditioning in diminishing children's fear

Behaviour Research and Therapy
Carol NewallRick Richardson

Abstract

Two behavioural strategies for reducing learned fear are extinction and counter-conditioning, and in this study we compared the relative effectiveness of the two procedures at diminishing fear in children. Seventy-three children aged 7-12 years old (M = 9.30, SD = 1.62) were exposed to pictures of two novel animals on a computer screen during the fear acquisition phase. One of these animals was paired with a picture of a scared human face (CS+) while the other was not (CS-). The children were then randomly assigned to one of three conditions: counter-conditioning (animal paired with a happy face), extinction (animal without scared face), or control (no fear reduction procedure). Changes in fear beliefs and behavioural avoidance of the animal were measured. Counter-conditioning was more effective at reducing fear to the CS + than extinction. The findings are discussed in terms of implications for behavioural treatments of childhood anxiety disorders.

Citations

Dec 18, 2019·Learning & Memory·Nicole E Keller, Joseph E Dunsmoor
Sep 11, 2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Lee Seng Esmond SeowMythily Subramaniam
Jan 16, 2021·Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI·Stefanie RiemerNadja Affenzeller
Dec 28, 2019·Behaviour Research and Therapy·Nicole E KellerJoseph E Dunsmoor
Aug 4, 2021·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·Joshua M EpsteinJennifer Crodelle
Aug 15, 2021·Neurobiology of Learning and Memory·Jingyi WangShaozheng Qin
Sep 17, 2021·The International Journal of Eating Disorders·Tom HildebrandtRobyn Sysko

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