Modifying Implicit and Valenced Associations of Social Words Through an Affective Simon Task-Training

Abstract

Maladaptive schemas are proposed to play a central role in the development and maintenance of social anxiety disorder. Whereas schemas cannot be operationalized, implicit associations reflect elements of schemas and can be operationalized. This study aimed to analyze whether an Affective Simon Task-Training (AST-T) is effective in modifying implicit and explicit associations of social words and whether trait social anxiety moderated the efficacy this training. An AST-T with 100 undergraduate students was conducted. Results indicated that responses indeed changed in the trained direction due to the AST-T, but these effects did not transfer to implicit and explicit associations. Trait social anxiety was found to moderate the efficacy of the AST-T. Further studies should distinguish whether it was a stimulus-response rule was learned or whether it was actually implicit associations that were changed.