EFFECTS OF STATE ANXIETY ON SELECTIVE PROCESSING OF THREATENING INFORMATION

The conceptualisation of Stroop interference as a state versus stable quality was examined in 23 spider-fearful and 23 control subjects. Stroop colournaming response latencies were examined after an anxiety-provoking (approach) condition and a neutral condition. Spider-fearful subjects showed increased response times to spider versus neutral words across conditions, as well as increased response times to spider words in the approach condition as compared to the neutral condition. These results suggest that increases in state anxiety enhance an existing interference effect for threatening information in highly fearful individuals. Similar results were also found for positive words, suggesting an emotionality effect during heightened state anxiety. Finally, cognitive avoidance was found to influence Stroop interference under state anxiety conditions.

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