Background and objectives: This study examined the effects of verbal information and approachavoidance
training on fear-related cognitive and behavioural responses about novel animals.
Methods: One hundred and sixty children (7e11 years) were randomly allocated to receive: a) positive
verbal information about one novel animal and threat information about a second novel animal (verbal
information condition); b) approach-avoidance training in which they repeatedly pushed away (avoid) or
pulled closer (approach) pictures of the animals (approach-avoidance training), c) a combined condition
in which verbal information was given prior to approach-avoidance training (verbal
information þ approach-avoidance training) and d) a combined condition in which approach-avoidance
training was given prior to verbal information (approach-avoidance training þ verbal information).
Results: Threat and positive information significantly increased and decreased fear beliefs and avoidance
behaviour respectively. Approach-avoidance training was successful in training the desired behavioural
responses but had limited effects on fear-related responses. Verbal information and both combined
conditions resulted in significantly larger effects than approach-avoidance training. We found no evidence
for an additive effect of these pathways.
Limitations: This study used a non-clinical sample and focused on novel animals rather than animals
about which children already had experience or established fears. The study also compared positive
information/approach with threat information/avoid training, limiting specific conclusions regarding the
independent effects of these conditions.
Conclusions: The present study finds little evidence in support of a possible causal role for behavioural
response training in the aetiology of childhood fear. However, the provision of verbal information appears
to be an important pathway involved in the aetiology of childhood fear.
© 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license