Human Emotional Learning: Likes, Dislikes and Fear

Overview

There is currently broad agreement that likes and dislikes, including strong emotional responses such as fear and anxiety, are learned. However, little is known about the manner in which different forms of emotional learning interact or about how emotional learning once acquired can be modified, reduced or eliminated. In particular in the context of fear learning this is problematic as fear memories once acquired seem difficult to change and likely to return even after successful extinction – a phenomenon known as relapse. Hence there is a need to explore new ways in which we can strengthen extinction learning in order to reduce relapse.

Research activities

You can expect to:

• Join a team of dedicated researchers.
• Learn how to design, execute, analyse, and communicate cutting edge research.
• Develop skills in experimental psychological research.

Outcomes

The research is basic in nature and will primarily enhance our understanding of how preferences, aversions, and fears are acquired, maintained or changed. This basic knowledge can inform applied areas like advertising, prejudice reduction or the treatment of clinical fear.

Skills and experience

Scholarships

You may be eligible to apply for a research scholarship.

Explore our research scholarships

Keywords

• Fear
• Anxiety
• Evaluative conditioning
• Psychophysiology
• Experimental Psychology
• Emotion

Contact

Contact the supervisor for more information.