False heart-rate feedback and reciprocal inhibition by aversion relief in the treatment of snake avoidance behavior

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine physiological and behavioral data collected using cognitive desensitization technique of treating snake avoidance behavior (Valins & Ray, 1967). The reciprocal inhibition by aversion-relief model was utilized to reinterpret the cognitive desensitization treatment paradigm. The roles of both false and veridical heart-rate feedback were also investigated. Forty subjects who were unable to pick up a snake on a specially designed test of snake intimacy were randomly assigned to one of three experimental treatment procedures and one control group. GSR and EKG responding were measured throughout the experimental treatment procedures. Immediately following the treatment session, subjects were again tested on the snake intimacy test. Subjective fear ratings were also obtained both before and after treatment. Support for the aversion-relief model was found in various aspects of the data. The results indicated that if the cognition, "That stimulus has not affected me internally," is operating for the snake slides, as suggested by Valins and Ray, it is veridical in nature and based on actual reduced physiological responding. It was also found that false heart rate feedback facilitated the overall aversion-relief treatment process.