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Why are phobias irrational?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2010

Peter F. Lovibond ,
David A. T. Siddle  and
Nigel W. Bond
Peter F. Lovibond
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia; [email protected]
David A. T. Siddle
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia; [email protected]
Nigel W. Bond
Affiliation:
School of Social Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide 5042, Australia; [email protected]
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Abstract

We endorse Davey's view that expectancy processes are intimately involved in fear reactions, but question his model on three grounds. First, the mechanism for generating expectancy bias to both ontogenetic and phylogenetic stimuli is not spelled out. Second, the selective association component is unnecessary. Third, the model fails to provide a clear explanation for the irrationality of phobic reactions.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 18 , Issue 2 , June 1995 , pp. 303
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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