| Abstract: | Investigated the hypothesis that fears are attitudes and can be reduced through the use of positive reinforcement. Fear was defined behaviorally as an expression of avoidance responses in the presence of the phobic object (in this study a harmless snake). 76 female undergraduates were selected according to their responses on a fear survey schedule, and randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups 1 experimental and 3 control. All ss were given the bandura snake approach scale and snake behavioral approach scale before and after the experiment, and were seen for 5 treatment sessions at which different parameters were tested for effects in shaping ss' behavior. There was a significant decrease (p |
