Perceived danger and perceived self-efficacy as cognitive determinants of acrophobic behavior

Abstract

The present research tested whether phobics' perceptions of self-efficacy or their perceptions of danger would more accurately predict their degree of phobic disability. Fifteen height phobics rated their self-efficacy, perceived danger, and anxiety arousal in conjunction with behavioral tests administered before and after treatment. Perceived danger was rated at three different sites in relation to the behavioral test setting. The results showed that perceived self-efficacy accurately predicted phobic behavior at both pretest and posttest, whereas perceived danger and anxiety arousal were comparatively weaker predictors of avoidance behavior. The modest relationship between perceived danger and phobic disability appears to derive from some phobics' awareness of the irrationality of their fears. The findings suggest that treatments might be more effectively directed toward raising clients' perceptions of self-efficacy than toward disconfirming their beliefs in danger.