The generalization of threat beliefs to novel safety stimuli induced by safety behaviors

Alex H.K. Wong*, Andre Pittig, Iris M. Engelhard

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Safety behaviors are responses that can reduce or even prevent an expected threat. Moreover, empirical studies have shown that using safety behaviors to a learnt safety stimulus can induce threat beliefs to it. No research so far has examined whether threat beliefs induced this way generalize to other novel stimuli related to the safety stimulus. Using a fear and avoidance conditioning model, the current study (n=116) examined whether threat beliefs induced by safety behaviors generalize to other novel generalization stimuli (GSs). Participants first acquired safety behaviors to a threat predicting conditioned stimulus (CSthreat). Safety behaviors could then be performed in response to one safe stimulus (CSsafeShift) but not to another (CSsafe). In a following generalization test, participants showed a significant but small increase in threat expectancies to GSs related to CSsafeShift compared to GSs related to CSsafe. Interestingly, the degree of safety behaviors used to the CSsafeShift predicted the subsequent increase in generalized threat expectancies, and this link was elevated in trait anxious individuals. The findings suggest that threat beliefs induced by unnecessary safety behaviors generalize to other related stimuli. This study provides a potential explanation for the root of threat belief acquisition to a wide range of stimuli or situations.

Original languageEnglish
Article number115078
JournalBehavioural Brain Research
Volume470
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 26 Jul 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors

Funding

IM Engelhard was supported by a Vici grant from NWO (grant no. 453-15-005) .

FundersFunder number
Vici grant from NWO453-15-005

    Keywords

    • Anxiety
    • Fear and avoidance conditioning
    • Fear generalization
    • Safety behaviors
    • Threat belief

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