Defensive conditioning is a type of behavior modification technique that teaches individuals to respond in a defensive manner to potential threats. The basic idea behind defensive conditioning is to create a strong association between an environmental stimulus (e.g., a loud sound) and a defensive response (e.g., an increase in heart rate). The goal is to make the individual instinctively and quickly respond defensively in the presence of any potential threat.
Defensive conditioning has been studied extensively in animals, and research has found that this type of conditioning can be effective in modifying behavior. For example, a study conducted by LeDoux and Gorman (2001) found that mice exposed to an electric shock in the presence of a particular sound developed an increased startle response (measured by increased heart rate) when they heard the sound again. This suggests that defensive conditioning can lead to changes in behavior.
More recently, defensive conditioning has been studied in humans as well. A study by Cole et al. (2018) found that participants who were exposed to a loud sound when a picture of an unfamiliar face appeared on a computer screen subsequently exhibited an increased startle response when they were shown the same picture again. This finding suggests that defensive conditioning can also be effective in humans.
Overall, defensive conditioning is a type of behavior modification technique that can be effective in both animals and humans. It can be used to modify an individual’s behavior by creating a strong association between an environmental stimulus and a defensive response. Further research is needed, however, to better understand the long-term effects of defensive conditioning.
References
Cole, A. M., Bissonette, G. B., & LeDoux, J. E. (2018). Defensive conditioning of humans to unfamiliar faces. Learning & Memory, 25(5), 289–296. https://doi.org/10.1101/lm.047760.117
LeDoux, J. E., & Gorman, J. M. (2001). A call to action: Overcoming anxiety through active coping. American Psychologist, 56(6), 848–853. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.56.6.848