Threat-confirming belief bias and symptoms of anxiety disorders

Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
Maartje S Vroling, Peter J de Jong

Abstract

This study tested the hypothesis that a generally enhanced threat-confirming reasoning style would set people at risk for the development of anxiety disorders. Therefore, a non-clinical student sample (N=146) was presented with a series of linear syllogisms referring to threatening and safety themes and with the anxiety subscale of the SCL-90 and trait anxiety in order to correlate reasoning with anxiety. Half of the syllogisms' conclusions were in line and half were in conflict with generally believable threat and safety related convictions (e.g., potassium cyanide is more toxic than tylenol; The Netherlands are safer than Afghanistan). For each type of syllogism, half was logically valid and half invalid. Overall, participants showed a clear interference of believability on logical reasoning, which is known as the belief bias effect. Furthermore, in line with the idea that people are generally characterized by a better safe than sorry strategy, the pattern indicated that the participants took more time to solve invalid threat related syllogisms as well as valid safety related syllogisms. This threat-confirming belief bias was however not especially pronounced in participants reporting relatively intense anxiety symptoms. Thus...Continue Reading

References

Mar 1, 1987·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·G Keinan
Jun 1, 1997·Behaviour Research and Therapy·P J de JongM van den Hout
May 9, 2001·Behaviour Research and Therapy·R J McNally
Dec 25, 2002·Cognition·Vinod Goel, Raymond J Dolan
Oct 11, 2003·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Jonathan St B T Evans
Mar 28, 2007·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Applied·Isabelle BlanchetteAnastasia Lavda
Nov 10, 2009·Cognitive Therapy and Research·Maartje S Vroling, Peter J de Jong

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

May 18, 2013·Cognition & Emotion·Maartje S Vroling, Peter J de Jong
Sep 25, 2016·Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry·Maartje S VrolingPeter J de Jong
May 27, 2020·Translational Psychiatry·Silvia PapaliniBram Vervliet

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
J KatzP A Wals
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
T JueR G Shulman
Magnetic Resonance in Medicine : Official Journal of the Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
T JueR G Shulman
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved