Validation of a self-report/behavioral subject selection procedure for analog fear research

The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the validity of a two-stage selection procedure for analog fear research. The Mutilation Questionnaire and a new behavioral commitment screening procedure were used to identify 20 high-fear and 20 low-fear subjects. As predicted, high-fear subjects exhibited greater subjective discomfort and physiological responsiveness to slides of fearful stimuli than low-fear subjects. The results provided evidence of predictive validity for the two-stage selection procedure. Factors recommending to researchers the investigation of mutilation anxiety as an analog of clinical anxiety are discussed.