It was as big as my head, I swear!: Biased spider size estimation in spider phobia

Journal of Anxiety Disorders
Volume 26, Issue 1, January 2012, Pages 20–24
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2011.08.009

Michael W. Vasey, Michael R. Vilensky, Jacqueline H. Heath, Casaundra N. Harbaugh, Adam G. Buffington, Russell H. Fazio

Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, 1835 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1222

Abstract

The current study tested the association between fear and perception in spider phobic individuals (n = 57) within the context of a treatment outcome study. Participants completed 5 post-treatment Behavioral Approach Tasks (BATs) in which they encountered a live spider and were asked to provide spider size estimates. Consistent with predictions, results indicated that high levels of fear were associated with magnified perception of phobic stimuli. Specifically, we found a significant positive correlation between size estimates and self-reported fear while encountering spiders. Together with previous findings, these results further support the notion that fear is involved in the encoding and processing of perceptual information.

Highlights

► Test of association between fear and perception in spider phobics.
► Phobics encountered 5 spiders, reported fear, and estimated size of spiders.
► Significant correlation between size estimates and self-reported fear.
► High levels of fear associated with magnified perception of spiders.

Keywords

Phobias; Cognitive bias; Perceptual distortion

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887618511001447