RELATIVE EFFICACY OF DESENSITIZATION AND MODELING APPROACHES FOR INDUCING BEHAVIORAL, AFFECTIVE, AND ATTITUDINAL CHANGES

Investigated basic change processes accompanying several social-learning procedures from the perspective of a dual-process theory of avoidance behavior. 48 snake-phobic Ss were administered either symbolic desensitization, symbolic modeling, live modeling combined with guided participation (contact desensitization), or no treatment. All 3 approaches produced generalized and enduring reductions in fear arousal and avoidance behavior and positive changes in attitudes. Modeling with guided participation proved to be the most powerful method. Moreover, Ss who attained only partial improvement through the other treatments displayed total extinction of phobic behavior after a brief period of modeling with guided participation. Favorable changes produced toward the phobic object were accompanied by fear reduction toward threatening situations beyond the specifically treated phobia, the decrements being roughly proportional to the potency of the treatments employed. Moderately high positive correlations were found between behavioral and attitudinal changes. Some evidence was obtained that modeling procedures expedite behavioral changes through vicarious extinction of fear arousal to aversive stimuli below the threshold for activating avoidance responses. (52 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.