The role of fear in theories of avoidance learning, flooding, and extinction.

Abstract

The course of fear conditioning and extinction in the avoidance-learning context is complex. This article summarizes the major lines of evidence that demonstrate a dissociation or desynchrony between measures of fear and avoidance responding. The evidence bearing on the role of fear in theories of avoidance learning and extinction is reviewed and critically evaluated. In addition, research is discussed regarding the determinants of fear over the course of avoidance acquisition, flooding, and extinction. Particular emphasis is placed on discussing the extent to which fear extinction is necessary and/or sufficient for avoidance response extinction both with conventional extinction procedures and with response prevention techniques.

Two-factor theory, the actor--critic model, and conditioned avoidance

“…Despite the widely replicated finding of a decrease in fear with extensive avoidance training, as Mineka (1979) the avoidance response. In fact, this is the prediction of two-factor theory itself.…”

“…Instead, once the avoidance response is well learned, animals often continue to perform it in every trial, during both acquisition and extinction (Levis, 1966;Levis, Bouska, Eron, & McIlhon, 1970;Levis & Boyd, 1979;Logan, 1951;Malloy & Levis, 1988;McAllister, McAllister, Scoles, & Hampton, 1986;Seligman & Campbell, 1965;Wahlsten & Cole, 1972; R. W. Williams & Levis, 1991). Furthermore, avoidance responding persists, and even gets stronger, after fear of the CS is drastically reduced or even nearly extinguished Mineka, 1979;Rachman, 1976;Riccio & Silvestri, 1973). This has been found during schedules involving extended acquisition (e.g., Cook, Mineka, & Trumble, 1987;Kamin et al, 1963;Mineka & Gino, 1980;Neuenschwander, Fabrigoule, & Mackintosh, 1987;Starr & Mineka, 1977) or extinction following acquisition (e.g., .…”

Fear Generalization in Humans: Systematic Review and Implications for Anxiety Disorder Research

“…Avoidance behavior is an instantiation of fear (Beckers et al, 2013) and plays a key role in the maintenance of anxiety (Barlow, 2002;Mineka, 1979). Avoidance may become debilitating and lead to impaired social functioning and, because of this, it is often the sole target of therapeutic change.…”

Paniekmanagement en exposure in vivo bij paniekstoornis met agorafobie

“…Levis' theorie over het serieel vermijdingsleren (Levis & Boyd, 1979) en verschillende cognitieve visies (Seligman & Johnston, 1973) zijn ook als mogelijke verklaringen naar voren gebracht. Iedere uitleg is echter weer bekritiseerd (Marshall et al, 1979;Mineka, 1979). Hoe flooding werkt is dus nog steeds niet geheel duidelijk.…”