The Effects of Very Brief Exposure on Experienced Fear and Insight

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of very brief exposure (VBE) to phobic stimuli on reducing self-reported fear when approaching the feared object. Siegel and Weinberger (2009) showed that those given VBE to masked spiders were less avoidant of a live tarantula. This study tested the effects of VBE and very brief flowers (VBF, control exposure) on avoidance of a live tarantula, level of experienced fear, and insight of therapeutic change. I hypothesized that exposure will reduce avoidance of a live tarantula, subjective units of distress (SUDs), and that most, but not all participants would be aware of these therapeutic changes. 23 phobic undergraduates, determined by a spider fear questionnaire and a baseline Behavioral Avoidance Test (BAT), were recruited to participate. These participants were assigned to one of two conditions: VBE or VBF. The study was double-blind; both the experimenter and the participants were unaware of which condition they were assigned to. Avoidance of a live tarantula was measured by the BAT. Level of fear was measured by a self-reported 10-point scale, and insight was measured by an interview. The results showed a significant difference between the effects of very brief exposure (VBE) and very brief flowers (VBF) on avoidance of a live tarantula. Effects of VBE on SUDs and level of insight was not significant, disconfirming these hypotheses.