Merckelbach H, Arntz A, de Jong P
Department of Experimental Psychopathology/Mental Health Sciences, Limburg University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Behav Res Ther. 1991;29(4):333-5. doi: 10.1016/0005-7967(91)90068-e.
Using the Phobic Origin Questionnaire (Ost, L. G. & Hugdahl, K. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 19, 439-477, 1981), the present study examined the extent to which severe spider phobics (N = 42) attributed their phobia to conditioning experiences, modeling experiences and/or informational learning experiences. Modeling was most often reported (71%), followed by conditioning (57%), and informational learning experiences (45%). It was also found that patients with a conditioning background reported less extreme cognitive symptoms when confronted with the phobic stimulus than patients with an indirect mode of acquisition (modeling and/or informational learning).
