Dual processes in fear and anxiety: no effects of cognitive load on the predictive value of implicit measures

B. Van Bockstaele, H. Tibboel, H. Larsen, R.W. Wiers, S.M. Bögels, E. Salemink

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Dual process models posit that combinations of impulsive and reflective processes drive behaviour, and that the capacity to engage in effortful cognitive processing moderates the relation between measures of impulsive or reflective processes and actual behaviour. When cognitive resources are low, impulsive processes are more likely to drive behaviour, while when cognitive resources are high, reflective processes will drive behaviour. In our current study, we directly addressed this hypothesis by comparing the capacity of implicit and explicit measures to predict fear and anxiety, either with or without additional cognitive load. In Experiment 1 (N = 83), only explicit measures of spider fear were predictive of spider avoidance, and manipulating cognitive load did not affect these relations. Experiment 2 (N = 70) confirmed these findings, as the capacity of explicit and implicit measures to predict self-reported and physiological responses to a social stressor was not moderated by cognitive load. In two experiments, we thus found no empirical support for the central dual process model assumption that cognitive control moderates the predictive value of implicit and explicit measures. While implicit measures and dual process accounts may still be valuable, we show that results in this field are not necessarily replicable and inconsistent.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)859-873
Number of pages15
JournalCognition & Emotion
Volume35
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
At the time of the study, Bram Van Bockstaele was a post-doctoral research fellow of the Research Priority Area Yield of the University of Amsterdam. Helle Larsen is partly funded by Research Priority Area Yield of the University of Amsterdam. The authors thank Michiel Koenraadt and Gabi Terzi? for their assistance with the data collection.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Keywords

  • Dual process models
  • attentional bias
  • cognitive load
  • implicit association test
  • predictive value of implicit measures

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Dual processes in fear and anxiety: no effects of cognitive load on the predictive value of implicit measures'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this