Fearful Faces and the Derived Transfer of Aversive Functions

Author(s)

Perez, William F. ^{[1, 2]} ; de Almeida, Joao Henrique ^{[3, 1]} ; Soares, Lucia C. C. S. ^[2] ; Wang, Taina F. L. ^[2] ; de Morais, Thais E. D. G. ^[2] ; Mascarenhas, V, Andre ; de Rose, Julio C. ^{[3, 1]}

Affiliation

^[1] Inst Nacl Ciencia & Tecnol Comportamento Cognicao, Sao Carlos - Brazil

^[2] V, Paradigma Ctr Ciencias & Tecnol Comportamento, Rua Wanderley 611, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PSYCHOLOGICAL RECORD; v. 70, n. 3, p. 387-396, SEP 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

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 fromthe 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. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/05935-6 - Transfer of function through equivalence classes involving facial expressions of happiness and fear
• Grantee: William Ferreira Perez
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/50909-8 - INCT 2014: Behavior, Cognition and Teaching (INCT-ECCE): relational learning and symbolic functioning
• Grantee: Deisy das Graças de Souza
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/10037-0 - Transformation of emotional functions in comparison networks evaluated by semantic priming and event-related potentials ERP
• Grantee: João Henrique de Almeida
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor