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01-08-2009 | Original Article

Covariation Bias in Blood-Injection-Injury Fear: The Application of Methodological Modifications Within the Illusory Correlation Paradigm

Auteurs: Kevin M. Connolly, Jeffrey M. Lohr, Nathan L. Williams, Bunmi O. Olatunji, Jeffrey L. Willems, Kathryn S. Hahn, Josh M. Cisler

Gepubliceerd in: Cognitive Therapy and Research | Uitgave 4/2009

Abstract

Previous studies have failed to support the prediction that covariation bias functions as a possible etiological and/or maintenance mechanism of blood-injection-injury (BII) fears. Methodological considerations may partially account for previous null findings. The current study extends previous studies by examining covariation bias in high (n = 32) and low (n = 30) BII fearful individuals using a systematically modified illusory correlation paradigm. Previous examinations have used multi-emotion stimuli (e.g., blood) or disproportionate stimulus–outcome emotion categories (e.g., Fear, Neutral, Neutral). Therefore, we incorporated fear-specific, disgust-specific, and neutral stimuli paired with ecologically valid, affectively-matched outcomes. Stimulus–outcome pairings were randomly paired and presented with equal frequency across trials. Participants provided estimations on the proportion of presented stimulus–expression pairings. Contrary to previous findings, our modified paradigm revealed a general covariation bias for affectively representative stimuli in high versus low BII fearful individuals. Further, the present study suggests a functional role for methodological variance in probability estimation. The current study’s limitations, in addition to theoretical and methodological implications are discussed.

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Base rate estimates could not be examined for the covariation bias scores because we allowed the score to range between −1 to +1. Consequently, the mean scores for covariation bias estimates by either type of stimulus or type of facial expression were zero.

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Titel: Covariation Bias in Blood-Injection-Injury Fear: The Application of Methodological Modifications Within the Illusory Correlation Paradigm
Auteurs: Kevin M. Connolly
Jeffrey M. Lohr
Nathan L. Williams
Bunmi O. Olatunji
Jeffrey L. Willems
Kathryn S. Hahn
Josh M. Cisler
Publicatiedatum: 01-08-2009
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Cognitive Therapy and Research / Uitgave 4/2009
Print ISSN: 0147-5916
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-2819
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-008-9189-7

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