Costly habitual avoidance is reduced by concurrent goal-directed approach in a modified devaluation paradigm

Glück VM, Zwosta K, Wolfensteller U, Ruge H, Pittig A (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Behaviour Research and Therapy Elsevier

Book Volume: 146

Article Number: 103964

DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2021.103964

Abstract

Avoidance habits potentially contribute to maintaining maladaptive, costly avoidance behaviors that persist in the absence of threat. However, experimental evidence about costly habitual avoidance is scarce. In two experiments, we tested whether extensively trained avoidance impairs the subsequent goal-directed approach of rewards. Healthy participants were extensively trained to avoid an aversive outcome by performing simple responses to distinct full-screen color stimuli. After the subsequent devaluation of the aversive outcome, participants received monetary rewards for correct responses to neutral object pictures, which were presented on top of the same full-screen colors. These approach responses were either compatible or incompatible with habitual avoidance responses. Notably, the full-screen colors were not relevant to inform approach responses. In Experiment 1, participants were not instructed about post-devaluation stimulus-response-reward contingencies. Accuracy was lower in habit-incompatible than in habit-compatible trials, indicating costly avoidance, whereas reaction times did not differ. In Experiment 2, contingencies were explicitly instructed. Accuracy differences disappeared, but reaction times were slower in habit-incompatible than in habit-compatible trials, indicating low-cost habitual avoidance tendencies. These findings suggest a small but consistent impact of habitual avoidance tendencies on subsequent goal-directed approach. Costly habitual responding could, however, be inhibited when competing goal-directed approach was easily realizable.

Authors with CRIS profile

Andre Pittig Professorship for Translational Psychotherapy

Related research project(s)

Decision conflicts in anxiety: Experimental mechanisms of approach-avoidance conflicts and their clinical relevance for anxiety disorders (DCA) May 1, 2018 - May 1, 2021

Involved external institutions

Technische Universität Dresden DE Germany (DE) Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Glück, V.M., Zwosta, K., Wolfensteller, U., Ruge, H., & Pittig, A. (2021). Costly habitual avoidance is reduced by concurrent goal-directed approach in a modified devaluation paradigm. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 146. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2021.103964

MLA:

Glück, Valentina M., et al. "Costly habitual avoidance is reduced by concurrent goal-directed approach in a modified devaluation paradigm." Behaviour Research and Therapy 146 (2021).

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