Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Childhood fears'

Different family structures and levels of parental and financial stress were investigated in relation to children's overtly expressed fears, and secondarily, covertly measured fears and concerns. The family structures consisted of divorced and remarried families divided into those divorced less than two years and those divorced greater than two years. Intact families were used as the control group. One-hundred-twenty-one children from six to eleven years of age and their biological mothers from a semirural, southwestern town comprised the sample. The children were administered five instruments assessing overt fears, covert fears/concerns, and positiveness in family relationships. Mothers were given eight self-report measures which included a questionnaire, a report of their child's overt fears, and an indication of the positiveness in family relationships. Results indicated that the children of divorced, single mothers tended to report greater overt fears than remarried and intact families. Indications of covert fears of death and separation were also suggested. This was especially true for those single mothers divorced less than two years. Children of intact families did not generally differ from remarried groups although there were implications that remarriage too soon after divorce may impact covert fears as well as positive feelings toward the stepfather. Children of mothers reporting high levels of stress reported greater levels of overt fears than children of low stress mothers. Financial stress for mothers appeared to have greater implications for children's overt and covert fears than did parental stress. In contrast to the children of mothers reporting high levels of stress, mothers who reported low levels of stress tended to have children who reported fewer overt fears but greater covert fears and concerns. Recommendations for future research including adding parental measures to assess the coping styles as well as the effectiveness of such coping with divorce and remarriage, using different measures of overt and covert fears, and extending the study to include data from the biological fathers as well as families in which the father has custodial rights.

Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006.
The aims of the present study were to inquire into the origins of middle childhood South African children’s fears. In order to do this as precisely as possible it was determined to what extent Rachman’s (1977, 1991) three pathways played a role in the experience of the selected sample’s fears; in intensifying their fears; and finally in the actual onset of their fears. The results were examined across the independent variables age, gender, socio-economic status (SES), and culture. In addition, Rachman’s (1977; 1991) hypothesis that stronger, more intense fears originate through Conditioning experiences, while less intense, everyday fears originate through the indirect pathways, namely Modeling and Negative Information/Instruction was tested. The participants consisted of a sample of 660 children aged between 10 and 14 years, attending grades 5 and 7, representing the three main cultural groups found in the Western Cape, South Africa, and residing in low, middle and high socio-economic residential areas. Participants completed a short biographical questionnaire and the Fear Option List (FOL). Data analysis revealed that the majority of participants reported Modeling experiences in connection to their greatest fear, followed by Information and Conditioning experiences. Significant gender, SES, and cultural differences were found. The majority of participants reported that Information experiences were responsible for intensifying their greatest fear, and thus playing a role in maintaining it, followed by Modeling and Conditioning experiences. Significant gender, SES, and cultural differences were found. With regard to the actual onset of participants fears, the majority of participants reported that they had no clear idea of how their fear began, followed by Information, Conditioning, and Modeling. Only significant SES and cultural differences were found. The first half of Rachman’s (1977; 1991) hypothesis was confirmed in that stronger, more intense fears were found to be strongly related to Conditioning experiences. However, the second part of his hypothesis that less intense, everyday fears are likely to originate through the indirect pathways was not confirmed. The implications of the present study’s findings within a South African context are discussed, as well as the limitations of the study and suggestions for future research.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary aim of this study was to determine the content, number, level and pattern of fears expressed by a culturally diverse selected group of middle childhood children in the Stellenbosch area. The secondary aim of this study was to establish whether there were any differences in the fears expressed with respect to culture, gender and socio-econmic status (SES) as well as to ascertain any differences with respect to the two fear measuring instruments. The two fear measuring instruments administered were the Free-Option Method (FOM) and the Fear Survey Schedule for Children Revised (FSSC-R). The FOM was used to determine the content and number of fears and the structured FSSC-R, to establish the content, number, level and pattern of fears. A predominantly quantitative method of data collection was used. In all, three questionnaires were completed by 404 middle childhood children between the ages of 8 and 12 years, attending four primary schools in the Stellenbosch area. These questionnaires comprised of the Biographical questionnaire, the FOM and the FSSC-R and were administered in the same order as mentioned. The data was also analysed in a quantitative manner. Culture was defined in the terms of the main representative cultural communities III the Stellenbosch area, namely, black, white and coloured South African children. The content of fears based on the results of the FOM yielded only a few similarities upon comparisons to the findings of previous studies. This, however, may be due to variations in the methodology of the FOM among studies. Similarities were found regarding the content of fears based on the FSSC-R results implying that certain fears are universal. The fear of crime or crime related aspects featured among the ten 11:0stcommon fears for all the children regardless of the measuring instrument used. The number and level of fears for the three cultural groups were the highest for the black South African children, followed by the coloured South African children while the white South African children displayed the lowest number and level of fears. The number and level of fears for all three cultures were generally higher than found elsewhere in the world according to previous studies. The pattern of fear was similar for all three cultures. Gender differences for all three cultures were consistent with preVIOUS research with girls expressing more fears than boys. Girls also displayed a higher level of fears on all the five factors than the boys. The number and level of fears was the highest for children coming from lower SES background than those coming from higher SES background. Difficulties were experienced with regard to sample size and SES and a caution to use the results regarding SES as only tentative guidelines is given. The similarities between the results on the two measuring instruments, the FOM and the FSSC-R, were sparse emphasising a need for the development of emic assessment tools. In the conclusion, recommendations for future studies are provided.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die prim ere doel van die onderhawige studie was om die inhoud, aantal, vlak en patroon van uitgesproke vrese deur 'n kultureel diverse geselekteerde groep van kinders in die middelkinderjare in die Stellenboscharea, te bepaal. Die sekondere doel van die onderhawige studie was om vas te stel of daar verskille was in die uitgesproke vrese wat uitgedruk is met betrekking tot kultuur, geslag en sosio-ekonomiese status (SES), sowel as die vergelyking tussen die twee meetinstrumente vir vrese. Die twee meetinstrumente wat toegepas is, is die "Free Option Method" (FOM) en die "Fear Survey for Children Revised" (FSSC-R). Die FOM was gebruik om die inhoud en aantal vrese te bepaal, terwyl die FSSC-R gebruik was om die inhoud, aantal, vlak en patroon van vrese te bepaal. 'n Oorwegende kwantitatiewe metode van data insameling is gebruik in hierdie studie. In totaal is drie vraelyste beantwoord deur 404 kinders in die middelkinderjare tussen die ouderdomme van 8 en 12 jaar, wat tans vier primere skole in die Stellenbosch area bywoon. Die drie vraelyste bestaan uit die Biografiese vraeIys, die FOM en die FSSC-R en is toegepas in die voorafgaande volgorde. Die data is ook kwantitatief geanaliseer. Kultuur is omskryf in terme van die hoof verteenwoordigende kultuurgemeenskappe III die Stellenbosch area, naamlik: swart, wit en kleurling Suid-Afrikaanse kinders. Die inhoud van die vrese wat op die resultate van die FOM gebaseer is, het weinig ooreengestem met ander navorsingsbevindings. Die verskynsel kan heeIwaarskynlik toegeskryf word aan die wisselende metodiek van die FOM in navorsing. 'n Groot mate van ooreenstemming met betrekking tot die inhoud van vrese wat gebaseer is op die FSSC-R resuitate, is bevind met betrekking tot verwante navorsing. Die implikasie hiervan is dat sekere vrese wel universeel is. Vrese vir geweld of geweiddadige aspekte het gefigureer onder die tien mees algemene vrese vir al die kinders, ongeag die meetintrument wat toegepas is. Die aantal en viak van vrese vir die ver~killende kuItuurgroepe was die hoogste vir die swart Suid-Afrikaanse kinders, gevoig deur die van die kleurling Suid- Afrikaanse kinders, terwyI die wit Suid-Afrikaanse kinders met die Iaagste aantal en vlak van vrese gepresenteer het. Die aantal en viak van uitgesproke vrese vir al drie kultuurgroepe was oor die algemeen hoer as die van navorsingbevindinge elders in die wereld. Die patroon van vrese was egter dieselfde vir die drie kultuurgroepe. Geslagverskille ten opsigte van al drie kultuurgroepe is in ooreenstemming met ander navorsingsresultate bevind. Meisies het, vergeleke met seuns, meer vrese, sowel as 'n hoer vlak van vrese op al vyf faktore van die FSSC-R getoon. Kinders vanuit 'n laer SES agtergrond het 'n groter aantal, sowel as hoer vlak van vrese ervaar as kinders vanuit 'n hoer SES agtergrond. As gevolg van die probleme wat ondervind is met die steekproefgrootte en die bepaling van SES, word gemaan om die resultate met betrekking tot SES net as tentatiewe riglyne te interpreteer. Daar was baie min ooreenstemming tussen die resultate van die twee meetinstrurnente, die FOM en die FSSC-R, wat die behoefte aan die ontwikkeling van gepaste meetintrurnente beklemtoon. Ten slotte word enkele riglyne vir verdere navorsing aanbeveel.

Children’s fascination with monsters is a normal part of childhood development. Children’s literature reflects this with a wealth of stories featuring monsters, ranging from fairy tales to picture books to books for independent readers. These stories can raise concerns from educators, parents and other sections of the community such as political and religious institutions on the basis that they could be disturbing or harmful to children. In contrast, there is evidence to indicate the potential for managing fears and enhancing feelings of empowerment in children through the reading of stories featuring monsters. A reappraisal of these stories from a predominantly therapeutic perspective reveals that they may act as agents of positive change in six ways – catharsis, naming, taming, integration, transformation and moral empowerment. Two of these functions, transformation and moral empowerment, are examined further in three case studies of stories for the older reader that feature monsters, Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver, Monster Blood Tattoo, Book One: Foundling by D.M. Cornish and my manuscript, ‘The Monster Chronicles’. The insights from this research have been used to inform the writing and editing of ‘The Monster Chronicles’ and inherent to that, my goal of creating a children’s story featuring monsters that is sensitive to children’s fears and their desire for empowerment.

Thesis (MA)-- Stellenbosch University, 2010.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The experience of fear is a normal phenomenon in the development of children. However, the often marginalised population of children with visual impairments, is one which has been neglected in past fear research. As far as could be ascertained, no research assessing the fears of children with visual impairments has been carried out the past 18 years, and studies within the South African context are non-existent. Previous research has suggested that children, who have a physical disability, are more prone to the development of a psychopathology than their non-disabled peers. It has also been suggested that, due to their physical limitations, children with visual impairments would express a higher prevalence of anxiety and fear. Therefore it is important to identify these children's fears, to enable those involved in their day-to-day lives to gain a greater understanding of their emotional world. The present study aimed to determine whether significant differences exist between the fear profiles of middle-childhood South African children with visual impairments when compared to their sighted counterparts. A differential research design was employed, and results were examined across the four independent variables of gender, age, culture, and vision. A total of 129 assenting children from three schools in the Western Cape participated in the present study, including 67 children with varying degrees of visual impairments, and 62 gender- and age-matched controls. All the children were administered a short biographical questionnaire and Burkhardt's (2007) child friendly South African Fear Survey Schedule for Children (FSSC-SA). The administration of these measures was adapted according to the children's degree of visual impairment. Results of the FSSC-SA indicated that the most feared item for the children with visual impairments was “Fire - getting burned”, while the children without visual impairments feared “Getting HIV” the most. The 10 most common fears related mainly to situations in which the possibility of danger and harm is present, with the majority of fears loading onto Factor I (fear of danger and death) of the FSSC-SA. Consistent with previous research, gender differences were apparent across number, level, and pattern of fear, with girls consistently being more fearful than boys. There was no significant relationship between age or culture and self-reported fear. In terms of the three sub-groups of visually impaired children, the children with severe visual impairment reported the highest number and level of fear. However, in general terms, the fear profiles of the two overall groups (children with and children without visual impairments) did not differ significantly, thus showing that the worlds, in which these children live, are not as different as was originally anticipated. In conclusion the present study's contributions as well as shortcomings are discussed, along with recommendations for future research.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vrees is 'n normale ervaring tydens die ontwikkeling van kinders, alhoewel die gemarginaliseerde populasie van kinders met visuele gestremdhede een is wat dikwels in navorsing oor vrees afgeskeep is. So ver as wat die navorser kon vasstel, is geen studies oor hierdie populasie die afgelope 18 jaar uitgevoer nie, en studies binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks bestaan glad nie. Vorige navorsing stel voor dat kinders met gestremdhede meer geneig is tot die ontwikkeling van psigopatologie as kinders sonder 'n gestremdheid in hul portuurgroep. Daar is ook voorgestel dat kinders met visuele gestremdhede as gevolg van hul fisieke beperkinge meer vrees en angs sal toon. Dit is dus belangrik om hierdie kinders se vrese te identifiseer, sodat die mense wat by hul alledaagse lewe betrokke is, 'n beter begrip vir hul emosionele wêreld kan hê. Die doel van die onderhawige studie was om vas te stel of daar beduidende verskille tussen die vreesprofiele van middelkinderjare-kinders met visuele gestremdhede bestaan in vergelyking met hul siende portuurs. Die studie het 'n differensiële navorsingsontwerp gevolg, en die resultate is bestudeer aan die hand van vier onafhanklike veranderlikes, naamlik geslag, ouderdom, kultuur en visie. 'n Totaal van 129 instemmende kinders van drie skole in die Wes-Kaap het deelgeneem aan die onderhawige studie. Die steekproef het 67 kinders met verskillende vlakke van visuele gestremdheid ingesluit, sowel as 62 kinders van vergelykbare ouderdom en geslag in die kontrolegroep. Die deelnemers moes 'n kort biografiese vraelys invul, sowel as Burkhardt (2007) se kindervriendelike Suid-Afrikaanse Vreesopnameskedule vir Kinders (FSSC-SA). Die toepassing van die meetinstrumente is aangepas volgens die kinders se graad van visuele gestremdheid. Resultate van die FSSC-SA het getoon dat kinders met visuele gestremdhede die meeste vrees getoon het vir “Vuur - om te verbrand”, terwyl die mees gevreesde item vir die kinders sonder visuele gestremdhede, die vrees “Om MIV op te doen” was. Die 10 algemeenste vrese het veral verband gehou met situasies waar daar 'n moontlikheid bestaan van gevaar of seerkry, en die meeste van hierdie items het meestal op Faktor I (vrees vir gevaar en die dood) gelaai. In ooreenstemming met vorige navorsing, het geslagsverskille duidelik geblyk ten opsigte van die aantal, vlak en patroon van vrees, met dogters wat konsekwent meer vrees as seuns vermeld het. Daar was geen beduidende verhouding tussen ouderdom of kultuur en self-gerapporteerde vrese nie. Ten opsigte van die drie subgroepe waarin die kinders met visuele gestremdhede ingedeel was, het die kinders met 'n ernstige visuele gestremdheid die hoogste aantal en vlakke van vrees gerapporteer. Oor die algemeen het die vreesprofiele van die twee oorhoofse groepe (kinders met en kinders sonder visuele gestremdhede) nie beduidend verskil nie, en dus blyk dit dat die wêrelde waarin hierdie twee groepe leef, nie so verskillend is as wat aanvanklik gedink is nie. Ten slotte, word die waarde en tekortkominge van die onderhawige studie bespreek, sowel as aanbevelings vir toekomstige navorsing voorgestel.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary aim of this study was to establish normative data regarding the fears expressed by and coping mechanisms in a selected group of middle childhood children living in a children's home with respect to content, number, level and pattern of fears and the coping mechanisms as well as their perceived efficacy. Children living in a children's home were referred to as children who were removed from family care as a result of lawful intervention and were thus seen as a special population. The secondary aim was to ascertain whether any differences in the fears expressed were found with respect to the independent variables of a special population and gender. The three measuring instruments were the Free-Option Method (FOM), the Fear Survey Schedule for Children Revised (FSSC-R) and the Coping Strategy (CS). The FOM was used to determine the content and number of fears, the structured FSSC-R to establish the content, number, level and pattern of fears and the CS to obtain the coping mechanisms used and their perceived effectiveness. A predominantly quantitative method of data collection was used. This was also true for the data analysis. In all three questionnaires were completed by 141 children living in a children's home (70 boys and 71 girls) in the Western Cape between the ages of 8 and 13. The three questionnaires comprised of the FOM, FSSC-R and the CS and were administered in the above-mentioned order. The content of fears based on the results of the FOM yielded only a few similarities upon comparison to the findings of a recent study by. More similarities were apparent upon comparison of the results of the FSSC-R implying that the structuredness of the measuring instrument plays a role in how universal childhood fears really are. The number as well as level of fear was higher for the children living in a children's home in comparison to the results of normative populations. This also holds true for the level of fear on all of the fear factors of the FSSC-R Gender differences that were apparent, were consistent with previous research with girls expressing a higher number and level of fears than boys. The girls in comparison to the boys also displayed a higher level of fear on all the five factors. The coping strategy most often used as well as perceived effective was the secondary coping strategy. This was followed by the primary coping strategy and finally the relinquished control coping strategy. Specific coping strategies, which were utilised, were support seeking and avoidance and these are associated with a higher level of intemalising symptoms. Overall, the coping strategies utilised were found to be effective in reducing the fear experienced. Only a few similarities were apparent upon companson of the results of the two measunng instruments, the FOM and the FSSC-R, emphasising the need for the development of an South African Fear Schedule. Lastly, recommendations for future studies are provided.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die primêre doel van die onderhawige studie was die insameling van ·normatiewe data omtrent die uitgesproke vrese van 'n geselekteerde groep kinderhuiskinders in die middelkinderjare met betrekking tot die inhoud, aantal, vlak en patroon van vrese en die hanteringstrategieë, sowel as die waargenome effektiwiteit daarvan. Kinders wat in kinderhuise woon is kinders wat van hulle gesinne verwyder is as gevolg van 'n wetlike ingreep en hulle word om hierdie rede as 'n spesiale populasie beskou. Die sekondêre doel van die onderhawige studie was om vas te stelof daar verskille was in die uitgesproke vrese met betrekking tot die onafhanklike veranderlikes van 'n spesiale populasie en geslag. Die drie meetinstrumente wat toegepas is, is die "Free Option Method" (FOM), die ''Fear Survey Schedule for Children Revised" (FSSC-R) en die "Coping Strategy"(CS). Die FOM is gebruik om die inhoud en aantal vrese te bepaal, terwyl die FSSC-R gebruik is om die inhoud, aantal, vlak en patroon van vrese te bepaal. Die CS is gebruik om die hanteringstrategieë en hul effektiwiteit te bepaal. 'n Oorwegend kwantitatiewe metode van data insameling, sowel as dataverwerking is vir hierdie studie gebruik. Drie vraelyste is beantwoord deur 141 kinders (70 seuns en 71 meisies) tussen die ouderdomme van 8 en 13 jaar wat in kinderhuise in die Wes-Kaap woon. Die FOM, FSSC-R en die CS is gebruik en in hierdie volgorde toegepas. Die inhoud van vrese wat op die resultate van die FOM gebaseer is, het weining ooreengestem met die navorsingsbevindings van 'n onlangse studie. Meer ooreenstemming is gevind met betrekking tot die inhoud van vrese wat gebaseer is op die FSSC-R resultate. Dit impliseer dat die gestruktureerdheid van die meetinstrumente 'n rol speel in hoe universeel vrese is. Die aantal sowel as vlak van vrese, was hoër vir die kinders wat in 'n kinderhuis woon vergeleke met die resultate van normatiewe populasies. Die bogenoemde is ook van toepassing ten opsigte van die vlak van vrese op al vyf faktore van die FSSC-R. Geslagsverskille wat voorgekom het, is in ooreenstemming met ander navorsingsresultate waar meisies, in vergelyking met seuns, meer vrese sowel as 'n hoër vlak van vrese op al vyffaktore van die FSSC-R getoon het. Die hanteringstrategieë wat die meeste deur die kinders gebruik is is die sekondêre hanteringstrategieë. Dit is gevolg deur die primêre hanteringstrategieë en laastens die opgegeë beheer hanteringstrategieë. Spesifieke hanteringstrategieë wat gebruik is, is ondersteuning en vermyding. Hierdie strategieë word geassosieer met 'n hoër vlak van geïnternaliseerde simptome. Oor die algemeen is die hanteringstrategieë as effektief beskou in die vermindering van vrese. Daar was min ooreenstemming tussen die resultate van die twee vrees meetinstrumente, die FOM en die FSSC-R, wat die behoefte aan die ontwikkeling van 'n vrees meetinstrument vir Suid-Afrikaanse omstandighede beklemtoon. Ten slotte word enkele riglyne vir toekomstige navorsing gegee.

Hypoglycaemia is an unavoidable consequence of treatment of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM). Symptoms are often embarrassing and distressing and can lead to the development of fear of hypoglycaemia (FoH). This fear can have a negative impact on diabetes management and can lead to further medical complications. 210 children and young people (CYP), aged 3-17 years and 190 parents from diabetes paediatric clinics across the West Midlands, UK, completed questionnaires exploring the prevalence of hypoglycaemia, FoH and links to hypoglycaemia awareness, self-care, quality of life and anxiety. Demographic information and HbA1c data were also collected. Results indicated that hypoglycaemia and severe hypoglycaemia (SH) are a problem for CYP in the UK. Hypoglycaemia Fear Survey (HFS) scores were higher in parents than in CYP (Total HFS 37.1±14.9 vs. 50.2±17.8 vs. 45.2±18.0, CYP vs. mother vs. father, respectively, p < 0.01). Adolescents with prior experience of severe hypoglycaemia (SH) had higher HFS scores compared to those without (t=-3.61, p < 0.001). Trait anxiety and SH explained 23% of the variance in HFS scores in adolescents. Trait anxiety explained 37% of the variance in HFS scores in under 11 year olds, 18% in mothers of under 11 year olds, 6% in mothers of adolescent and 10% in fathers of adolescents. There was no correlation between HFS and HbA1c. Qualitative analyses identified ‘Burden’ as an overarching theme from CYP and parent interviews. ‘Negative emotions’ and ‘Living with diabetes’ emerged as the key themes of analysis. This research study adds to existing findings on the prevalence of hypoglycaemia, severe hypoglycaemia, FoH and possible related factors, by focusing on the paediatric population and their parents, in the UK, for which there is limited research. Qualitative analyses also provided novel reports of the experience of T1DM for CYP and their mothers. Implications of this research could lead to the development of an FoH and anxiety managementprogramme for CYP and their parents. The findings of this study also help to raise awareness of this very real and current issue in diabetes management.

This thesis draws primarily upon the work of Furedi (2001; 2002) and his notion of a culture of fear to explore contemporary parenting and childhood from a social psychological perspective. Furedi argues that contemporary society is dominated by a sense of anxiety which is ubiquitous and free-floating (2007) and it is arguable that this fear is particularly easily attached to issues around childhood as children are considered increasingly vulnerable - giving rise to the phenomenon of paranoid parents (Furedi, 2002). While these and related issues have been explored elsewhere in the social sciences (e.g. Jackson & Scott, 2000; Katz, 2008; Valentine, 1996) there has yet to be a study from a social psychological perspective which would seek to understand how these fears are articulated, constructed and managed in relational interaction. The first stage of analysis is a content analysis of newspaper articles, providing partial information about the socio-cultural backdrop of the study. This is complemented by focus group data from both parents and children (aged 12-13) which is analysed using strategies and tools drawn from discursive psychology (Edwards & Potter, 1992). This approach allows for an examination of how participants construct fears, anxieties and concerns that exist in and around modern parenting and childhood. Themes that emerged from this analysis include a focus on the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, a fear of hypothetical dangers, and a catalogue of potential risks. These concerns are also worked up in the participants talk as related to wider social changes (such as an increase in crime and changes in family structure) and connected with a nostalgia for a past which is constructed as safer, simpler and more liberated; even the children display a fondness for this utopian childhood. Hence the study begins to develop an empirical understanding of how aspects of a culture of fear may be worked up in relation to contemporary parenting and childhood, and so points toward some of its possible psychological implications.

Fear conditioning and extinction are central in the cognitive behavioral model of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which underlies exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Youth with OCD may have impairments in conditioning and extinction that carries treatment implications. The present study examined these processes using a differential conditioning paradigm. Forty-one youth (19 OCD, 22 community controls) and their parents completed a battery of clinical interviews, rating scales, and a differential conditioning task. Skin conductance response (SCR) served as the primary dependent measure across all three phases of the conditioning procedure (habituation, acquisition, and extinction). During habituation, no meaningful differences were observed between groups. During acquisition, differential fear conditioning was identified across groups evidenced by larger SCRs to the CS+ compared to CS-, with no significant group differences. During extinction, a three-way interaction and follow-up tests revealed youth with OCD failed to exhibit differential fear conditioning during early fear extinction; whereas community controls consistently exhibited differential fear conditioning throughout extinction. Across participants, the number and frequency of OCD symptoms was positively associated with fear acquisition and negatively associated with fear extinction to the conditioned stimulus. OCD symptom severity was negatively associated with differential SCR in early extinction. Youth with OCD exhibit a different pattern of fear extinction relative to community controls that may be accounted for by impaired inhibitory learning in early fear extinction. Findings suggest the potential benefit of augmentative retraining interventions prior to CBT. Therapeutic approaches to utilize inhibitory-learning principles and/or engage developmentally appropriate brain regions during exposures may serve to maximize CBT outcomes.

Thesis (DSc (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.
Fears are a normal part of development but excessive fears may interfere with daily functioning and may reflect serious anxiety problems. In order to determine whether fears are excessive or not, as well as to implement prevention programmes, an assessment instrument is needed that is socially and scientifically relevant to the context in which the child lives. Furthermore, normative data is necessary in order to understand the concept of fear. The primary aim of the study was to develop a measuring instrument that is scientifically and socially relevant within the South African context. This entailed a qualitative stage where semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 middle childhood children attending four local primary schools in the Stellenbosch area. These interviews were transcribed and analysed for emerging themes. The emerging themes were then added to the existing Fear Survey Schedule for Children-Revised (FSSC-R). Reliability analyses were conducted on the data obtained by the adapted FSSC-R. Item-total correlations and exploration of the item construct resulted in 23 items being deleted. The remaining items on the scale demonstrated good internal consistency (α = 0,97). The factor structure of the remaining items was explored by means of principal factor analysis with varimax rotation. Various factor solutions were explored and the five-factor solution was found to be the best conceptual fit for the data. The five factors are: Factor I-Fear of Danger and Death, Factor II-Fear of the Unknown, Factor III-Worries, Factor IV-Fear of Animals, Factor V-Situational Fears. The adapted scale is a South African version of Ollendick’s FSSC-R and is referred to as the FSSC-SA. The secondary aim was to determine the content, number, level and pattern of fear of a selected group of middle childhood South African children, living in the Western Cape, based on the results of the South African Fear Survey Schedule for Children (FSSC-SA). This entailed a quantitative stage. The adapted FSSC-R was completed by 646 middle childhood children between the ages of 7 and 12 years, attending four primary schools in the Stellenbosch area in the Western Cape Province. The participants were also requested to complete a biographical questionnaire before they completed the adapted FSSC-R. Culture was defined with respect to the main representative cultural communities in the Stellenbosch area, namely black, coloured and white. The results of the South African fear instrument indicate that the most feared item for the South African children is ‘getting HIV’. The ten most common fears indicate that fears are to a certain extent universal but that some fears also reflect the context in which a child lives. Furthermore the added items also featured among the most fear eliciting items suggest that these items reflect the societal concerns, issues and fears of South African children. Black South African children displayed the highest number as well as level of fear, followed by the coloured South African children and then the white South African children. This was also applicable to the pattern of fear. Gender differences are apparent with respect to number, level and pattern of fears with girls consistently expressing more fears than boys. This applies to all cultural groups. In conclusion, implications of the present study’s results in the South African context as well as shortcomings and recommendations for future studies are discussed.

Rachman (1977) suggested that fears may be acquired via three distinct pathways: direct traumatic experience, verbal information received from others, and vicarious learning. In vicarious fear learning an individual learns from another individual by observing their response to a stimulus or situation. Mineka and Cook (1993) showed that in monkeys this observed fear response behaves as an unconditioned stimulus (US). Thus vicarious learning is likely to be similar, in a procedural sense, to classical conditioning and the success of learning is determined by the relative strength of these conditioned stimulus-unconditioned stimulus (CS-US) associations. Recent studies suggest that vicarious learning plays a role in the development of childhood fears (Askew & Field, 2007; Gerull & Rapee, 2002). However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying this type of learning and the factors that affect it. Associative learning research shows that the salience of the US (a measure of its effectiveness) is critical for learning, if the US is more salient, learning should be more effective. Therefore, the first group of experiments in this thesis manipulated factors expected to affect US salience and hence vicarious fear learning. Experiment 1 considered the importance of the relatedness of observers and models for US salience, specifically whether greater increases in children's fear-related responses are observed when fear responses are modelled by children's mothers compared to when they are modelled by strangers. It also looked at whether fear beliefs acquired vicariously can be unlearned via vicarious counterconditioning and whether the type of model influenced this. Results showed that children's fear responses for animals increased following fear-related vicarious learning and decreased following positive learning. Similarly, counterconditioning led to unlearning of these responses. Model type did not affect vicarious learning or subsequent vicarious counterconditioning. Experiment 2 looked at another factor expected to affect US salience: the age of the model relative to the observer. This experiment examined the relative effects of same-age peer modelling and adult modelling in changing children's fear-related responses. Results were nearly identical to the first experiment: learning and unlearning were similar irrespective of whether the model was a peer or an adult. Experiment 3 examined what effect the richness of the information source has on US salience using moving models (on film) compared to still (photographic) images. No significant effect of the threat-relevant vicarious film on children's fear beliefs and attentional bias was found. The second group of experiments concentrate on characteristics of the CS. Research with adults suggests that when fear-relevant stimuli are used, fear learning will generally be greater (produce a larger conditioned response), occur more rapidly (in fewer trials) and will be more robust (demonstrate superior resistance to extinction) than for fear-irrelevant stimuli (see e.g. Öhman & Mineka, 2001). However, Askew, Dunne, Özdil, Reynolds, and Field (2013) showed that vicariously acquired conditioned responses for fear-relevant stimuli were not significantly greater than those for fear-irrelevant stimuli in children (6 to 11 years). A further two experiments here examined the speed and robustness of vicariously learned responses for fear-relevant stimuli. Experiment 4 manipulated the number of CS-US pairings children saw and compared vicarious learning for two stimuli of differing fear-relevance. Results found increased fear-related responses for both types of stimuli: the effect was not affected by the fear-relevance of the stimuli, nor the number of CS- US pairings that children were exposed to. Fear beliefs were still found to be raised at follow-up one week later, and no . evidence was found for more robust learning for more fear-relevant stimuli. The final experiment, Experiment 5, looked at robustness in more detail. The resistance of learnt responses to extinction was compared in two stimuli of varying fear- -. relevance (animals and flowers). Significant increases in fear-related beliefs and avoidance for animals and flowers were found again, but there was no significant extinction effect observed for avoidance preferences for either CS type. Unexpectedly, significantly greater extinction was observed with fear beliefs for animals compared to flowers. In summary, the first set of experiments showed that in VL with children, the salience of the US is either not easy to manipulate or, more likely, US salience has little effect on fear learning. The second set of experiments demonstrated that the fear-relevance of the stimulus is also not important for children in VL. These findings may have an evolutionary explanation: for children of this age, acquiring knowledge of a potential threat and acting upon it may be more important in terms of survival than the salience/relevance of the US or CS that facilitates such acquisition.

Fear is an integral and adaptive aspect of emotion related development (Gullone, 1999) and is one of the earliest regulatory systems influencing the control of behaviors (Rueda, Posner & Rothbart, 2004). This study examined the potential role of child fearfulness on the relation between attention, effortful control and visual recognition memory. Behavioral and physiological measurements of fear as well as measures of attention and recognition memory were examined. Behavioral tendencies of fearfulness rather than discrete behavioral acts were associated with right frontal asymmetry. VRM performance was also associated with more right frontal functioning. Fearfulness regulated the relation between attention and VRM as well as moderated the relation between effortful control and VRM. This study provided some evidence for the influencing role of normal variations of fear (i.e., non-clinical levels of fear) on the cognitive processes of developing children.
Ph. D.

Research has indicated a strong interest in knowing who is being represented and how information is being represented in the communication about childhood immunization. This study uses a two-part analysis to look at source representation and framing in childhood immunization communication. A quantitative analysis of articles from the New York Times and USA Today were examined for their source representation, their use of fear appeals, through the Extended Parallel Processing Model (EPPM), and the use of frames, through the application of Prospect Theory. A qualitative semiotic analysis was conducted on 36 images that appeared on www.yahoo.com and www.google.com to find common themes for who is being represented and how information is being portrayed through the images. Results found a high prevalence of representation from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, other governmental agencies and views from health/medical professionals in both the articles and images.
M.A.
Nicholson School of Communication
Sciences
Communication MA

Temperamental characteristics may distinguish which children are at greater risk for later psychopathology. In addition, parenting quality may interact with the association between temperament and behavior problems to increase or decrease externalizing or internalizing behaviors in children. This study examined whether mothers’ parenting quality moderated the associations between children’s temperamental fear and children’s behavior problems. The sample consisted of 143 low-income mother-child dyads who participated in various interactional tasks designed to measure mothers’ parenting and children’s temperamental fear. While children’s fearless and fearful temperament were not significantly associated with externalizing and internalizing behaviors, respectively, some significant associations emerged. Positive and negative parenting were negatively associated, negative parenting and fearful temperament were positively associated, fearful and fearless temperament were negatively associated, and internalizing and externalizing behaviors were positively associated. Finally, results from moderation analyses indicated no significant interaction effects of parenting quality and children’s temperamental fear on children’s problem behavior.

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Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES
Children have shown interest in the mysteries of existence, asking, "Why do we have so many fears? Witches, fairies, vampires, dragons, angels: do they exist? "Fear is one of the main motivating forces of human conduct; it is necessary to protect against dangers, but not always the same for all children. Talking about fear is a very complex thing, given the individual and cultural singularities of children and the myriad of psychological factors that can trigger it. The objective of this research was to study the perception and manifestation of fear factors and protection factors in children aged 6 to 10 years, as well as to verify if there are differences in gender and type of school (public or private) in the perception and manifestation These factors. For this research, a "Picture Pack" instrument was composed of 24 figures, 12 fear figures and 12 protection figures, consisting of 4 categories: 1) Fantastic fear figures: Ogre, Vampire, Dragon, Death, Devil and Witch. 2) Figures of concrete fear: Couple fighting, Thief, Plane crashing, Lightning, Boys fighting and Accident of transit. 3) Fantastic Protection Figures: Santa Claus, Fairy, Angel, Wizard, Spiderman and Bear. 4) Concrete protective figures: Grandparents, Father / Son, Mother / Daughter, Family, Churches and Friends. The sample consisted of 400 children between 6 and 10 years old, 50% male and 50% female, from two schools, one public and one private from the city of São Paulo. The research has a descriptive quantitative nature, the discussion of the results and the symbolic analysis of the figures of the deck are based on the theoretical framework of Analytical Psychology. In this research we sought the validation of the instrument created "Deck of Figures". In order to understand the perception and manifestation of fear factors and protection factors, two hypotheses were considered: 1) fear is more fantastic in early childhood and becomes more and more concrete; 2) Protection figures, on the other hand, are more concrete in the beginning of life and then become more fantastic. It was possible to observe that, with respect to the figures of fear, the fantastic figures were chosen more in relation to the concrete ones, by the boys as by the girls, in all the ages, which shows the prevalence of the fantasy world in childhood. As for the gender differences, it was observed that in the total sample boys choose more fantastic protective figures and girls choose more concrete ones, which may be related to the different forms of play. As far as age is concerned, fantastic fear figures decrease with age, while concrete figures of fear increase, which is in accordance with the first hypothesis. In relation to protection figures, children, even the older ones, remain closely linked to concrete family protection figures, and these data contradict the second hypothesis. However, the angel fantastic protection figure was the most chosen by all children, and that choice increased with age. As for differences in educational institutions, one can observe the choice of figures of concrete fear: thief and couple fighting were more chosen by the public school children, which may be related to the greater violence of the environment in which they live. The larger choice of the Fairy (fantastic protection figure) by the public school can be understood as compensation in the imaginary world for a reality that is not good for the child. It is concluded, therefore, that fear is a factor related to survival and that learning to manage situations that cause fear is a necessity for the psychological development of the child. By choosing the children in this sample, it can be seen that the security that the family can bring is a preponderant protection factor
As crianças têm demonstrado interesse nos mistérios da existência, perguntando: “Por que temos tantos medos? Bruxas, fadas, vampiros, dragões, anjos: eles existem?” O medo é uma das principais forças motivadoras da conduta humana, ele é necessário para proteger dos perigos, mas nem sempre são os mesmos para todas as crianças. Falar sobre o medo é algo muito complexo, tendo em vista as singularidades individuais e culturais das crianças e a infinidade de fatores psicológicos capazes de desencadeá-lo. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo estudar a percepção e a manifestação dos fatores medo e dos fatores de proteção em crianças de 6 a 10 anos, bem como verificar se existem diferenças quanto ao gênero e o tipo de escola (pública ou particular) na percepção e manifestação desses fatores. Foi criado para esta pesquisa um instrumento “Baralho de Figuras” composto por 24 figuras, sendo 12 figuras de medo e 12 figuras de proteção, constituído por 4 categorias: 1) Figuras de medo fantásticas: Ogro, Vampiro, Dragão, Morte, Diabo e Bruxa. 2) Figuras de medo concretas: Casal brigando, Ladrão, Avião caindo, Raio, Meninos brigando e Acidente de trânsito. 3) Figuras de proteção fantásticas: Papai Noel, Fada, Anjo, Mago, Homem Aranha e Urso. 4) Figuras de proteção concretas: Avós, Pai/Filho, Mãe/Filha, Família, Igrejas e Amigos. A amostra foi constituída por 400 crianças entre 6 e 10 anos, sendo 50% do sexo masculino e 50% do sexo feminino, de duas escolas, uma pública e uma particular da cidade de São Paulo. A pesquisa tem natureza quantitativa descritiva, a discussão dos resultados e a análise simbólica das figuras do baralho se encontram embasadas no referencial teórico da Psicologia Analítica. Nesta pesquisa buscou-se a validação do instrumento criado “Baralho de Figuras”. A fim de entender a percepção e a manifestação dos fatores de medo e dos fatores de proteção, foram consideradas duas hipóteses: 1) o medo é mais fantástico no início da infância e vai se tornando cada vez mais concreto; 2) as figuras de proteção, ao inverso, são mais concretas no início da vida e depois vão se tornando mais fantásticas. Foi possível constatar que no que se refere às figuras de medo, as figuras fantásticas foram mais escolhidas em relação às concretas, tanto pelos meninos como pelas meninas, em todas as idades, o que mostra a prevalência do mundo da fantasia na infância. Quanto às diferenças de gênero, observou-se que, na amostra total, os meninos escolhem mais as figuras de proteção fantásticas e as meninas escolhem mais as concretas, o que pode estar ligado às formas diferentes do brincar. No que diz respeito à idade, as figuras de medo fantásticas diminuem com a idade, enquanto que as figuras de medo concretas aumentam, o que está de acordo com a primeira hipótese. Em relação às figuras de proteção, as crianças, mesmo as mais velhas, permanecem muito ligadas às figuras de proteção concretas familiares, sendo que esses dados contrariam a segunda hipótese. Porém, a figura de proteção fantástica anjo foi a mais escolhida por todas as crianças, sendo que essa escolha aumentou com a idade. Quanto às diferenças de instituições de ensino, observa-se a escolha das figuras de medo concreto: ladrão e casal brigando foram mais escolhidas pelas crianças de escola pública, o que pode estar relacionado à violência maior do ambiente em que vivem. A escolha maior da Fada (figura de proteção fantástica) pela escola pública pode ser compreendida como uma compensação no mundo do imaginário para uma realidade que não está boa para a criança. Conclui-se, portanto, que o medo é um fator relacionado à sobrevivência e que o aprender a administrar situações que ocasionam medo é uma necessidade ao desenvolvimento psicológico da criança. Pela escolha das crianças dessa amostra, pode ser visto que a segurança que o núcleo familiar pode trazer é um fator de proteção preponderante

O ambiente esportivo apresenta diversas situações em que o medo se manifesta de acordo com estímulos específicos, podendo variar muito entre cada indivíduo. A Ginástica Artística (GA) é uma modalidade esportiva na qual há certo risco iminente constante. A manifestação do medo pode gerar como conseqüência a diminuição da auto-estima, o desconforto ou a vergonha diante dos colegas, o comprometimento da integridade física, a dificuldade no aprendizado de novos exercícios e até o abandono, nos casos extremos. Assim, as respostas a essas situações devem receber a devida atenção desde o início da prática na modalidade, para que os atletas consigam conviver e até superar a manifestação dessa emoção tão complexa. A partir de entrevistas com ginastas femininas da categoria pré-infantil, a presente pesquisa investigou a manifestação do comportamento do medo na GA. Foram identificadas as principais situações causadoras do medo nestas ginastas, dentre elas o medo da lesão, de errar, do desconhecido e do técnico. Além do mais, foram observadas quais as estratégias ingênuas utilizadas por estas ginastas, na tentativa de controle do medo, Por fim, foram constatadas as percepções das ginastas sobre as atitudes de seus técnicos, pais e colegas ao se depararem com a manifestação de seus medos. Assim, a finalidade da presente pesquisa vem a ser acrescentar informações deste contexto específico, em consideração à manifestação do medo e suas implicações para ginastas, técnicos e pais
The sport environment presents many situations were fears emerge from specific stimuli, which may vary according to the individual. Artistic Gymnastics (AG) is a sport that involves a constant risk. The manifestation of fear brings, consequently and among other things, low self-esteem, discomfort or shame before colleagues, physical integrity risk, learning difficulties and even drop-out. Consequently, the outcomes to these situations demands attention since the first steps on AG. Interviewing first level competitive gymnasts, this research investigates the fear behavior in AG. The main starter situations of fear were identified, like fear of injury, fear of making errors, fear of the unknown, and fear of the coach. Furthermore, the naive strategies, commonly used by gymnasts in order to cope with fear the gymnasts\' perceptions of their coaches, parents and peers attitudes in the face of their fears were observed. Thus, the purpose of this study was to improve understanding of this specific context with regards to fear and its effects over gymnasts parents and coaches

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1988.
Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 109-116).

Although fear is an integral part of normal human functioning, it is important to obtain knowledge of children’s normative fear and defence mechanism in order for parents and caregivers to understand and contribute towards mediating potentially stressful experiences of children in their care. This combined qualitative and quantitative study aimed to identify a dominant defence mechanism for children in their middle childhood in dealing with fear. In order to reach the aim of this study a conceptual framework was done exploring terms central to this study including: development in middle childhood, fear, coping mechanisms and defence mechanisms. Miller and Dollard’s learning theory as a theoretical perspective was applied to the study. Interviews were conducted with eleven children in the southern suburbs of Cape Town. The data was analyzed and several findings were identified and explored. Implications, limitations as well as suggestions are part of the concluding chapter of the report.
Sociology
M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

abstract: The purpose of the current study was to use structural equation modeling-based quantitative genetic models to characterize latent genetic and environmental influences on proneness to three discrete negative emotions in middle childhood, according to mother-report, father-report and in-home observation. One primary aim was to test the extent to which covariance among the three emotions could be accounted for by a single, common genetically- and environmentally-influenced negative emotionality factor. A second aim was to examine the extent to which different reporters appeared to be tapping into the same genetically- and environmentally-influenced aspects of each emotion. According to mother- and father-report, moderate to high genetic influences were evident for all emotions, with mother- and father-report of fear and father-report of anger showing the highest heritability. Significant common environmental influences were also found for mother-report of anger and sadness in both univariate and multivariate models. For observed emotion, anger was moderately heritable with no evidence for common environmental variance, but sadness, object fear and social fear all showed modest to moderate common environmental influences and no significant genetic variance. In addition, cholesky decompositions examining genetic and environmental influences across reporter suggested that despite considerable overlap between mother-report and father-report, there was also reporter-specific variance on anger, sadness, and fear. Specifically, there were significant common environmental influences on mother-report of anger- and sadness that were not shared with father-report, and genetic influences on father-report of sadness and fear that were not shared with mother-report. In-home observations were not highly correlated enough with parent-report to support multivariate analysis for any emotion. Finally, according to both mother- and father-report, a single set of genetic and environmental influences was sufficient to account for covariance among all three negative emotions. However, fear was primarily explained by genetic influences not shared with other emotions, and anger also showed considerable emotion-specific genetic variance. In both cases, findings support the value of a more emotion-specific approach to temperament, and highlight the need to consider distinctions as well as commonalities across emotions, reporters and situations.
Dissertation/Thesis
M.A. Psychology 2013

The subject that was investigated was the reactions that children, in middle childhood, experienced after being involved in an armed robbery. There were three reasons for choosing this topic, the primary one being that the researcher has come across very little research around this topic. Another reason was that it fits within the social work context, as social workers are interested in early intervention and prevention methods. Lastly, the researcher, who is a social worker and works with children, wishes to be able to offer her clients the best service available, to aid them through the trauma of an armed robbery. The problem that was identified can therefore be seen as the lack of knowledge on how children react after being involved in an armed robbery. The goal of the research was to explore the reactions of children in middle childhood who have been involved in an armed robbery. The researcher used a qualitative approach to the research study, as it was most effective in gaining the meaning that the respondents gave to the armed robbery. The data was gathered through the case study strategy and semi-structured interviews were conducted. The researcher interviewed the parents of the children involved in armed robberies where possible, otherwise she interviewed the professionals who had worked with the children. With regard to the sampling method used for the research project, the researcher used non-probability sampling as there was no set list of children who had been involved in armed robberies When looking at the available literature around the topic, it is generally agreed that the level of development that the child is at, will impact how the child reacts to trauma. Middle childhood is generally accepted to be the ages of six to twelve years, where there is a general emotional, cognitive, behavioural and physiological development. There are also a number of factors that influence how a child will respond, such as age. The literature also concluded that a traumatic experience is an occurrence that is not part of a child’s normal everyday routine and it is often unanticipated and very frightening, like the experience of an armed robbery. However, after extensive searching, the researcher found very little literature available on the specific trauma of an armed robbery. The findings of this research project showed that every child had several reactions to being involved in an armed robbery. Emotional reactions were however the most common, and these included reactions such as fearfulness, clinginess and worrying. Behavioural reactions were the next most common to occur within the respondents and included reactions such as afraid of being alone and of the dark. Physical and social reactions were not as common, but were still experienced and included reactions such as headaches and nightmares, as well as the fear of people the same race as that of the robbers. When looking at the above-mentioned reactions, it also became evident that there was a general theme of fear found in all four categories It was also discovered in the research process that the reactions that children experienced during the trauma of an armed robbery were the same as that of children who had experienced other traumas.
Dissertation (MSD (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2007.
Social Work and Criminology
MSD
unrestricted