A behavioral route to dysfunctional representations: The effects of training approach or avoidance tendencies towards novel animals in children

We examined the effects of training to approach or avoid novel animals on fear-related responses in children. Ninety-five primary school children (9–13 years old) were instructed to repeatedly push away or pull closer pictures of novel animals. We tested whether this manipulation would lead to changes in self-reported attitudes, implicit attitudes, fear beliefs, and avoidance behaviors towards these animals. The training produced more positive...