Approach-Avoidance Training: Processes and Applications

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Andreas B. Eder
• Subject Area: General, Cognitive and Mathematical Psychology
• Term: from 2014 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 259132772

• Final Report Year: 2025

Final Report Abstract

Research on Approach-Avoidance Training has shown that motivational responses to certain stimuli, objects, and people can be systematically modified through training in approach- and avoidance-related behaviors. However, the underlying processes of these training effects are not yet well understood. The objective of this research project was to investigate these processes, assess the plausibility of theoretical explanations, and identify factors that influence the effectiveness of an Approach-Avoidance Training. To achieve this, training procedures were implemented that alter motivated behavior and/or attitudes. The project results demonstrated that the training procedure had no effect on beverage consumption. However, systematic effects on evaluations were observed, which were moderated by pre-existing attitudes toward the training objects. No evidence was found for a moderation of the training effect through changes in an implicit approach bias. Instead, the results support an explanation based on propositional reasoning. These research findings contribute to a better understanding of the applications and limitations of this training procedure in practical use.

Publications

• Mechanisms underlying effects of approach-avoidance training on stimulus evaluation.. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 44(8), 1224-1241.
  Van Dessel, Pieter; Eder, Andreas B. & Hughes, Sean
  
• No effects of explicit approach-avoidance training on immediate consumption of soft drinks. Appetite, 130, 209-218.
  Krishna, Anand & Eder, Andreas B.
  
• Operant evaluative conditioning.. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Learning and Cognition, 45(1), 102-110.
  Eder, Andreas B.; Krishna, Anand & Van Dessel, Pieter
  
• The influence of pre-training evaluative responses on approach-avoidance training outcomes. Cognition and Emotion, 33(7), 1410-1423.
  Krishna, Anand & Eder, Andreas B.
  
• Embodiment of approach-avoidance behavior: Motivational priming of whole-body movements in a virtual world.. Motivation Science, 7(2), 133-144.
  Eder, Andreas B.; Krishna, Anand; Sebald, Albrecht & Kunde, Wilfried
  
• Transfer of Approach-Avoidance Training: Motoric or Goal-Related?. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, 7(3-4), 276-289.
  Eder, Andreas B. & Krishna, Anand
  
• Approach-Avoidance Training: Exploring the Role of Action Identification Processes. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement.
  Eder, Andreas B. & Krishna, Anand
  
• Episodic binding of approach–avoidance goals to stimuli: On the microgenesis of stimulus-motivated action tendencies to approach and avoid.. Motivation Science, 10(1), 52-62.
  Eder, Andreas B.; Krishna, Anand; Giesen, Carina G. & Frings, Christian