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  • Impact of Threat Context on Aversive Expectations and Perceived Aversiveness of Low-to-Mid Intensity White Noise Bursts

    Topic: 
    Expecting an event to be aversive may shape its affective experience. In this line, we previously demonstrated that expecting an aversive event increases the perceived aversiveness of a benign outcome—a phenomenon we termed aversification. This project will investigate whether an additional threat of electric shock intensifies this effect. Specifically, we will examine whether being in a threat context—where participants are instructed that they may receive an electric shock—versus a safe context—where no shocks can occur—enhances the influence of aversive expectations on the perceived aversiveness of white noise bursts.

    Methods and Measures:
    Participants will take part in a conditioning experiment involving two contexts: threat and safe. In the threat context, they will be informed that an electric shock may occur, whereas in the safe context, they will be informed that no shocks will occur. During the acquisition phase, classical conditioning procedures will be used to establish expectations about the intensity of upcoming noise bursts. In the test phase, we will examine how these expectation (aversive vs. benign) and context (threat vs. safe) influence the perceived aversiveness of noise bursts at benign intensities, as well as how these factors interact. Participants will provide subjective aversiveness ratings of the noise bursts, and physiological responses—including heart rate and skin conductance—will be recorded. Additionally, neuroticism will be assessed exploratorily using a standardized questionnaire to examine its potential relationship with these effects.

    Thesis Focus:
    Students can tailor their thesis based on their specific interests within this project, focusing on
    - Behavioral responses (aversiveness ratings)
    - Physiological measures (heart rate, skin conductance)
    - Personality dimensions (neuroticism; exploratory, combined with another focus)

    Lab Work and Training:
    This project involves laboratory work and data collection, which is already ongoing. You will receive training in lab procedures and data collection techniques.


    Thesis language: English

    Supervisor: Marian Boor