Danger expectancies and insight in spider phobia

Abstract

Differences between phobic and normal subject perceptions of danger were examined. Nineteen spider-fearful subjects and a matched set of controls gave danger ratings before and during a spider-avoidance test. When detached from the phobic stimulus, spider-fearful subjects: (1) gave higher estimates of the probability of being bitten than did controls, (2) gave higher estimates of the injuries that would result from being bitten, and (3) believed their high levels of anticipated anxiety were more reasonable and appropriate to the demands of the situation than did controls. These findings are inconsistent with both the traditional account and Beck and Emery's (1985) more recent view that, when detached from the phobic situation, patients can accurately evaluate the danger of potential phobic encounters. The present results question the view that phobic individuals have complete insight into the inappropriateness of their own distress. Anxiety 2:179–185 (1996). © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.