Effects of false heart-rate feedback on avoidance behavior: An investigation of “Cognitive desensitization”
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Abstract
Valins and Ray (1967) report a procedure in which subjects, presented with bogus heart-rate recordings indicating an absence of fear arousal in the presence of the feared object (i.e., a snake), subsequently exhibited a reduction in behavioral avoidance of a snake. An attempt was made to replicate these findings employing a more conventional and stringent criterion of behavioral avoidance. Contrary to Valins and Ray, results showed no significant behavioral or attitudinal effect of the cognitive manipulation. A preliminary clinical application of this false feedback procedure was described.