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Mulier L, Slabbinck H, Vermeir I. Face your fears: direct and indirect measurement of responses to looming threats. Cogn Emot 2024; 38:187-197. [PMID: 37731376 DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2023.2258593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the emotional and behavioural effects of looming threats using both recalled (self-reported valence) and real-time response measurements (facial expressions). The looming bias refers to the tendency to underestimate the time of arrival of rapidly approaching (looming) stimuli, providing additional time for defensive reactions. While previous research has shown negative emotional responses to looming threats based on self-reports after stimulus exposure, facial expressions offer valuable insights into emotional experiences and non-verbal behaviour during stimulus exposure. A face reading experiment examined responses to threats in motion, considering stimulus direction (looming versus receding motion) and threat strength (more versus less threatening stimuli). We also explored the added value of facial expression recognition compared to self-reported valence. Results indicated that looming threats elicit more negative facial expressions than receding threats, supporting previous findings on the looming bias. Further, more (vs. less) threatening stimuli evoked more negative facial expressions, but only when the threats were looming rather than receding. Interestingly, facial expressions of valence and self-reported valence showed opposing results, suggesting the importance of incorporating facial expression recognition to understand defensive responses to looming threats more comprehensively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lana Mulier
- IESEG School of Management, Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 9221 - LEM - Lille Economie Management, Lille F-59000, France
| | - Hendrik Slabbinck
- Department of Marketing, Innovation, and Organisation, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University Ghent, Belgium
| | - Iris Vermeir
- Department of Marketing, Innovation, and Organisation, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University Ghent, Belgium
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2
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Sigurvinsdottir R, Skúladóttir H, Antonsdóttir HF, Cardenas P, Georgsdóttir MT, Írisardóttir Þórisdóttir M, Jónsdóttir EK, Konop M, Valdimarsdóttir HB, Vilhjálmsson HH, Ásgeirsdóttir BB. A Virtual Reality Courtroom for Survivors of Sexual Violence: A Mixed-Method Pilot Study on Application Possibilities. Violence Against Women 2024; 30:249-274. [PMID: 37801610 DOI: 10.1177/10778012231205589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
This mixed-method pilot study examined the application possibilities of a virtual courtroom to support survivors of sexual violence who may experience courtroom-associated distress. Female sexual violence survivors (n = 13) who had testified in court following victimization entered an interactive virtual courtroom replica. Their reactions were measured quantitatively and qualitatively. The virtual courtroom evoked both subjective and physiological stress. Participants perceived the virtual reality environment as similar to the real-life courtroom. Most reported negative experiences from interacting with the criminal justice system. The virtual courtroom is a possible future strategy to support survivors when reporting violence to the justice system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Paola Cardenas
- Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | | | | | | | - Magdalena Konop
- Department of Psychotherapy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
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3
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Altan-Atalay A, Tuncer İ, King N, Önol B, Sözeri Y, Tezel S. Repetitive negative thinking during ambiguous situations: Interactive roles of looming cognitive style and intolerance of uncertainty. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2023; 79:101840. [PMID: 36805151 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2023.101840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Looming cognitive style (LCS) and intolerance of uncertainty (IUC) are both cognitive risk factors that play an important role in development of anxiety disorders. Even though both are known to be triggered by ambiguous situations, there is inadequate research on how they predict anxiety and repetitive negative thinking (RNT) patterns in response to ambiguity. The current study aimed to examine the interactive association of IUC and LCS with state anxiety and intensity of RNT following exposure to a stressor that involves ambiguity. METHODS Data were collected from 292 (153 women) individuals aged between 18 and 63 (M = 20.82, SD = 5.20) who were administered self-report measures of LCS, IUC, and anxiety followed by a vignette describing an ambiguous situation. State RNT and anxiety were assessed following exposure to the vignette. RESULTS The results indicated that IUC moderated the association of physical looming with state RNT. Individuals who have elevated levels of both physical looming and IUC reported experiencing more higher frequency of RNT when compared with other individuals. LIMITATIONS Although the manipulation check has shown that the scenario is effective it was not pilot tested. Also, since the manipulation was conducted online, the manipulation may not have been presented in a standardized way to all the participants. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the study shows that the two risk factors enhance each other's effect and lead to more intense levels of repetitive, uncontrollable, and distressing thoughts following exposure to ambiguity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - İrem Tuncer
- Koç University, Department of Psychology, Turkey
| | - Naz King
- Koç University, Department of Psychology, Turkey
| | - Bengü Önol
- Bilgi University, Department of Psychology, Turkey
| | - Yaren Sözeri
- Koç University, Department of Psychology, Turkey
| | - Selin Tezel
- University of Rotterdam, Department of Psychology, the Netherlands
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4
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Looming Cognitive Style More Consistently Predicts Anxiety than Depressive Symptoms: Evidence from a 3-Wave Yearlong Study. COGNITIVE THERAPY AND RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10608-020-10189-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Venkatesan V, Khess CRJ, Shreekantiah U, Goyal N, Kshitiz KK. Response Processes to Looming Appetitive and Aversive Cues in Euthymic Bipolar Patients and Their First-Degree Relatives: An Exploratory Study. Indian J Psychol Med 2021; 43:209-216. [PMID: 34345096 PMCID: PMC8287393 DOI: 10.1177/0253717620975285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with bipolar disorder demonstrate increased sensitivity to appetitive/rewarding stimuli even during euthymia. On presentation of arousing pictures, they show a peculiar response, suggesting heightened vigilance. While responding to looming arousing cues, studies show subjects with anxiety spectrum disorders exhibit increased reaction time (RT), explained by the "looming-vulnerability model." This study aimed to investigate the responses to looming arousing cues in euthymic bipolar patients and their first-degree relatives, as compared to healthy controls. METHOD A looming appetitive and aversive cue paradigm was designed for assessing the RT of patients to process appetitive and aversive cues. The behavioral inhibition/activation and sensitivity to reward/punishment amongst the groups were also assessed. RESULTS The bipolar group showed significantly longer RT to process appetitive cues irrespective of the looming condition. Aversive cues elicited significantly longer RT in both the bipolar group and in first-degree relatives, but only when presented with the looming condition. Significant looming bias was elicited in the bipolar group which suggested a particular cognitive style to looming cues. A composite measure of RT along with sensitivity to reward/punishment distinguishes the bipolar group and their first-degree relatives from the healthy controls. CONCLUSION The looming vulnerability model may provide important insights for future exploration of cognitive endophenotypes in bipolar disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Velprashanth Venkatesan
- K. S. Mani Centre for Cognitive
Neurosciences and Dept. of Psychiatry, Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi,
Jharkhand, India
| | - Christoday R J Khess
- S. S. Raju Centre for Deaddiction
Psychiatry, Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
| | - Umesh Shreekantiah
- K. S. Mani Centre for Cognitive
Neurosciences and Dept. of Psychiatry, Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi,
Jharkhand, India
| | - Nishant Goyal
- K. S. Mani Centre for Cognitive
Neurosciences and Dept. of Psychiatry, Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi,
Jharkhand, India
| | - K. K. Kshitiz
- Dept. of Biochemistry, Central
Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
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Vieira JB, Schellhaas S, Enström E, Olsson A. Help or flight? Increased threat imminence promotes defensive helping in humans. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20201473. [PMID: 32842931 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.1473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In humans and other mammals, defensive responses to danger vary with threat imminence, but it is unknown how those responses affect decisions to help conspecifics. Here, we manipulated threat imminence to investigate the impact of different defensive states on human helping behaviour. Ninety-eight healthy adult participants made trial-by-trial decisions about whether to help a co-participant avoid an aversive shock, at the risk of receiving a shock themselves. Helping decisions were prompted under imminent or distal threat, based on temporal distance to the moment of shock administration to the co-participant. Results showed that, regardless of how likely participants were to also receive a shock, they helped the co-participant more under imminent than distal threat. Reaction times and cardiac changes during the task supported the efficacy of the threat imminence manipulation in eliciting dissociable defensive states, with faster responses and increased heart rate during imminent compared to distal threats. Individual differences in empathic concern were specifically correlated with helping during imminent threats. These results suggest that defensive states driving active escape from immediate danger may also facilitate decisions to help others, potentially by engaging neurocognitive systems implicated in caregiving across mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana B Vieira
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Sabine Schellhaas
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Erik Enström
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Andreas Olsson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
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McGuire M, Vonk JM. In or out: Response slowing across housing conditions as a measure of affect in three Western lowland gorillas ( Gorilla gorilla gorilla). PeerJ 2020; 8:e9525. [PMID: 32728496 PMCID: PMC7357556 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Individuals experiencing negative affect have shown response slowing, a longer latency to respond in relation to baseline, when presented with aversive stimuli. We assessed response slowing in three male gorillas housed in a bachelor group as a function of daytime and nighttime housing arrangements. Methods In both experiments, three gorillas were rewarded for touching a single image (baseline, non-threatening gorilla or threatening gorilla) on a touchscreen. In Experiment One, they completed 48 50-trial sessions across combinations of three nested daytime and three nighttime conditions. In Experiment Two, they completed eight 50-trial sessions with novel stimuli across two daytime conditions, which were nested within two nighttime conditions. Housing conditions represented different amounts of space and degree of choice. We predicted that the gorillas would show response slowing to threatening stimuli when space and choice were restricted. Results We did not observe response slowing in Experiment One, although daytime and nighttime conditions interacted to predict response latencies. The gorillas responded more slowly when they had access to indoors and outdoors overnight compared to when they were in their stalls or together in an indoor habitat, but only if they had been given access to both indoors and outdoors or locked in the indoor habitat the day before. In Experiment Two, the gorillas did show response slowing to threatening stimuli, but this pattern did not interact with housing conditions. Our results, although limited by a small sample, are somewhat consistent with those of a previous study that did not find significant response slowing for apes as a function of aversive testing conditions, although the procedure has been effective in identifying dysregulated fear (high fear in low threat conditions) in macaques. The utility of this paradigm for testing affect in apes awaits further evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly McGuire
- Zoo Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA
| | - Jennifer M Vonk
- Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA
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Yeo GC, Hong RY, Riskind JH. Looming Cognitive Style and Its Associations with Anxiety and Depression: A Meta-analysis. COGNITIVE THERAPY AND RESEARCH 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10608-020-10089-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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9
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Riskind JH, Calvete E. Anxiety and the dynamic self as defined by the prospection and mental simulation of looming future threats. J Pers 2019; 88:31-44. [DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- John H. Riskind
- Department of Psychology George Mason University Fairfax Virginia
| | - Esther Calvete
- Department of Psychology University of Deusto Bilbao Spain
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Lackner HK, Reiter-Scheidl K, Aydin N, Perchtold CM, Weiss EM, Papousek I. Laughter as a social rejection cue: Influence of prior explicit experience of social rejection on cardiac signs of "freezing". Int J Psychophysiol 2018; 128:1-6. [PMID: 29604307 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2018.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The study aimed at investigating the immediate cardiac effect of the sudden perception of other people's laughter after experimentally manipulating healthy participants' proneness to experience laughter as a cue of social threat. We expected that participants would show cardiac signs of freezing (i.e., sustained heart rate deceleration immediately after perception of the laughter) after prior social rejection but not or less so after prior acceptance, due to an increased bias to perceive the ambiguous social signal as a cue of social threat and rejection after rejection had been primed. Contrary to expectations, the perception of other people's laughter elicited a decelerative (freezing) response regardless of whether it was preceded by the experience of social rejection or acceptance. The response was prolonged in participants who had been accepted beforehand compared to those who had been rejected. The findings indicate that, given a relevant social context, other people's laughter can be a powerful cue of social threat and rejection also in healthy individuals. Prolonged heart rate deceleration after an ambiguous social signal may facilitate the processing of significant social information in the socially threatening situation. The study adds to the literature rendering the course of the immediate transient heart rate response a useful tool in social rejection research. Additionally, the findings suggested that in some cases the further progress of transient heart rate changes in more extended time-windows (about 30 s) may provide additional relevant information about the processing of social cues.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nilüfer Aydin
- Department of Psychology, Social Psychology Unit, University of Klagenfurt, Austria
| | - Corinna M Perchtold
- Department of Psychology, Biological Psychology Unit, University of Graz, Austria
| | - Elisabeth M Weiss
- Department of Psychology, Biological Psychology Unit, University of Graz, Austria
| | - Ilona Papousek
- Department of Psychology, Biological Psychology Unit, University of Graz, Austria.
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Hong RY, Riskind JH, Cheung MWL, Calvete E, González-Díez Z, Atalay AA, Curzik D, Jokic-Begic N, Del Palacio-Gonzalez A, Mihić L, Samac N, Sica C, Sugiura Y, Khatri S, Kleiman EM. The Looming Maladaptive Style Questionnaire: Measurement invariance and relations to anxiety and depression across 10 countries. J Anxiety Disord 2017; 49:1-11. [PMID: 28359786 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2017.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The Looming Maladaptive Style Questionnaire (LMSQ) is a self-report measure designed to assess the looming cognitive style, a tendency to interpret threats as rapidly approaching and increasing in magnitude. To date, no systematic evaluation on the psychometric properties of the LMSQ across diverse cultural contexts has been done. In the present research, the measurement invariance of the LMSQ test scores was examined in 10 countries (N=4000). Confirmatory factor analysis suggested that a two-factor model (i.e., physical looming and social looming) fitted the data well across countries. Partial measurement invariance was established for the LMSQ scores across the countries whereas full measurement invariance was achieved across gender. Meta-analytic structural equation modeling was applied to examine the unique contributions of the two looming factors to anxiety and depression symptoms. Results indicated that the test scores underlying two looming factors were crucial and valid predictors of symptoms. The LMSQ shows promise as a measure with cross-cultural generalizability and opens new avenues for its use in diverse cultural settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Y Hong
- National University of Singapore, Singapore.
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12
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Riskind JH, Sica C, Bottesi G, Ghisi M, Kashdan TB. Cognitive vulnerabilities in parents as a potential risk factor for anxiety symptoms in young adult offspring: An exploration of looming cognitive style. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2017; 54:229-238. [PMID: 27614663 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2016.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Revised: 08/21/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Given that anxiety runs in families, it is critical to understand the cognitive factors that may be responsible for this intergenerational transmission. The present study offers a first step by exploring the link between mother and father tendencies to view potentially threatening situations as rapidly escalating toward dreaded outcomes (i.e., looming cognitive style) and the emotional disturbances and looming cognitive styles of their adult offspring. METHODS We assessed cognitive vulnerabilities, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in a non-clinical sample (N = 382) of Italian college students and their parents. RESULTS The looming cognitive style of fathers, but not mothers, was significantly related to greater anxiety in adult offspring. This finding was obtained for both sons and daughters, and remained even after statistically controlling for the anxiety, worry, depressive symptoms, and anxiety sensitivity (AS) of parents). Notably, the association between fathers' looming cognitive style and offspring symptoms was not related to their child's depressive symptoms, and similar to prior work, served as a cognitive marker specific to anxiety. LIMITATIONS The present study relied on a cross-sectional design and did not use clients diagnosed with anxiety disorders. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that it may prove fruitful to consider parental vulnerabilities such as looming cognitive styles in comprehensive cognitive and interpersonal models of anxiety. The intergenerational transmission of emotional difficulties seems to extend beyond anxiety to beliefs about the escalation of threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- John H Riskind
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA.
| | - Claudio Sica
- Department of Human Health Sciences, University of Firenze, Italy
| | - Gioia Bottesi
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Italy
| | - Marta Ghisi
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Italy
| | - Todd B Kashdan
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
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