| Abstract: | ![]()
This study investigated snake-fearful subjects' skin conductance, heart rate, and fear ratings to repeated presentations of seascape and snake films (10–13 sec duration). The films sampled three levels of fear intensity and were displayed in ascending, descending, or nonsystematic orders; additional Ss viewed only high-fear material. A linear relationship with fear intensity emerged for fear ratings, but not for physiological measures. Differences found between orders in patterns of habituation were concordant for cardiac rate and fear ratings; relative to the other orders, the ascending sequence habituated less and displayed sensitization to material of higher fear levels. In all orders, there was marked habituation of physiological responses, especially in the first session. The possible role of adaptation level and implications of the data for desensitization and flooding were noted. |
