Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Dr Urs Mosimann
Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.
Cognitive-motivational theories of phobias propose that patients' behavior is characterized by a hypervigilance-avoidance pattern. This implies that phobics initially direct their attention towards fear-relevant stimuli, followed by avoidance that is thought to prevent objective evaluation and habituation. However, previous experiments with highly anxious individuals confirmed initial hypervigilance and yet failed to show subsequent avoidance. In the present study, we administered a visual task in spider phobics and controls, requiring participants to search for spiders. Analyzing eye movements during visual exploration allowed the examination of spatial as well as temporal aspects of phobic behavior. Confirming the hypervigilance-avoidance hypothesis as a whole, our results showed that, relative to controls, phobics detected spiders faster, fixated closer to spiders during the initial search phase and fixated further from spiders subsequently.
Author(s): Pflugshaupt T, Mosimann UP, von Wartburg R, Schmitt W, Nyffeler T, Muri RM
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Anxiety Disorders
Year: 2005
Volume: 19
Issue: 1
Pages: 105-116
ISSN (print): 0887-6185
ISSN (electronic): 1873-7897
Publisher: Pergamon
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2003.12.002
DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2003.12.002
Notes: 0887-6185 (Print) Journal Article
Altmetrics provided by Altmetric
