Electrodermal fear conditioning and sexual victimization in college students

Abstract

Little research on sexual victimization has explored factors, particularly biopsychological factors that impede a person's ability to respond to risk or fear. According to Read-React-Respond model, effectively responding to a sexual threat involves a person accurately recognizing risk cues, prioritizing self-preservation, and reacting to this threat, and we propose that fear conditioning is relevant for one to effectively respond to a sexual threat with its role in avoidance behavior. This study tests whether electrodermal fear conditioning is associated with sexual victimization. The sample comprised 43 female college students, and 44% self-reported at least one sexual victimization experience. Skin conductance was recorded during a fear-conditioning task. The victims had a weaker fear conditioning skin conductance response (SCR) than the nonvictim group. Furthermore, the victims showed a larger SCR to the tone previously signifying no aversive events than the tone previously signifying aversive events during extinction. This is the first study documenting an association between sexual victimization and reduced electrodermal fear conditioning. Findings highlight the importance of the biopsychological factors in sexual victimization and lend support to the Read-React-Respond model. The findings of poor electrodermal fear conditioning among victims should be taken into consideration in preventive efforts. Our findings also have important implications for exposure-based therapy.