Spider Conditioning

The goal of this study was to examine avoidance behaviour in spider-fearful persons.

On every trial, on three of the doors symbols are presented: either a circle, a triangle and a square, counterbalanced for role. The participant has to select and approach one of them, starting from the center. After reaching the door, the door will open and reveal either a coin (small reward), 5 coins (large reward) or a spider (punishment/aversive stimulus). After collecting the coin(s) or seeing a spider the participant has to return to the center to start the next trial.