Fearful Faces and the Derived Transfer of Aversive Functions
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Fearful Faces and the Derived Transfer of Aversive Functions William F. Perez 1,2 & João Henrique de Almeida 2,3 & Lúcia C. C. S. Soares 1 & Tainá F. L. Wang 1 & Thaís E. D. G. de Morais 1 & André V. Mascarenhas 1 & Julio C. de Rose 2,3
# Association for Behavior Analysis International 2020
Abstract Studies suggest that fear-related responses might be acquired through the facial expressions of other individuals. The present study aimed to investigate the derived transfer of aversive functions in equivalence classes comprised of facial expressions of fear and happiness. A delayed matching-to-sample task established two equivalence classes between facial expressions of emotions and nonsense abstract stimuli: B1-A1(Fear)-C1-D1; B2-A2(Happiness)-C2-D2. After relational training (AB, AC, CD) and equivalence tests (BD, DB), the transfer of function from the faces to the D stimuli was evaluated by means of (1) a semantic differential, (2) an avoidance task, (3) US expectancy scale, and (4) valence scale. Results from the semantic differential indicated that D1 and D2 had negative and positive evaluations, respectively. Fear related measures indicated that D1 (equivalent to fear) evoked avoidance responses, was highly rated on US expectancy and was negatively valenced; in comparison, D2 (equivalent to happy) did not evoke either avoidance or US expectancy and was positively valenced. These findings indicate that the participation of fearful faces in equivalence classes leads to derived fear, including derived avoidance responses. Keywords equivalence relations . transfer of function . semantic differential . avoidance . fearful faces Equivalence relations are central in a behavior-analytic account of symbolic behavior (Sidman, 1994; Sidman & Tailby, 1982; Hayes, Barnes-Holmes, & Roche, 2001; de Rose & Bortoloti, 2007). A possible way to simulate symbol-referent relations in the laboratory requires establishing arbitrary relations among dissimilar stimuli and assessing whether such stimuli function as substitutes for each other in specific contexts. Experimental preparations for studying equivalence relations usually arrange contingencies to shape conditional relations between stimuli, such as nonsense forms (e.g., AB, BC); the substitutability of these stimuli in the control of behavior is then tested by presenting novel relations that derive from those previously trained. When participants responding to these novel stimulus combinations coheres with the properties of symmetry (e.g., * William F. Perez [email protected] 1
Paradigma – Centro de Ciências e Tecnologia do Comportamento, Rua Wanderley, 611, Perdizes, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2
Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia sobre Comportamento, Cognição e Ensino (INCT-ECCE), https://inctecce.com.br/en/
3
Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
BA and CB) and transitivity (e.g., AC and CA), the formation of an equivalence class is attested. The transfer of a behavioral function among equivalent stimuli also attests their sub
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