Languages and PsychotherapyThe Effect of Foreign Language on Fear Extinction

  1. Isabel Ortigosa-Beltrán
  2. Jon Andoni Duñabeitia
  3. Víctor Costumero
  4. Diana Castilla
  5. Irene Jaén
  6. Albert Costa
  7. Azucena García-Palacios
Journal:
Psicothema

ISSN: 0214-9915,  1886-144X

Year of publication: 2023

Volume: 35

Issue: 1

Pages: 30-40

Type: Article

DOI: 10.7334/PSICOTHEMA2022.326 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: Psicothema

Sustainable development goals

Abstract

Usar un idioma extranjero puede influir la modulación de las emociones, pero no está claro si su uso podría influir diferentes procesos psicoterapéuticos. Este estudio explora el efecto de la lengua extranjera en la extinción del miedo. Método: Durante el condicionamiento, parte de los estímulos presentados se asociaron a amenaza, mientras los participantes realizaban una tarea de cuenta regresiva en un contexto de lengua nativa. En la fase de extinción, se realizó la misma tarea en su lengua nativa/extranjera, y se informó de que ya no habría amenaza. Se recogieron autoinformes de miedo, así como dilatación de pupila y actividad electrodérmica como medidas fisiológicas de excitación. Resultados: La extinción fue satisfactoria, como muestran una mayor dilatación pupilar y los autoinformes de miedo al comparar las condiciones de amenaza y neutral en la fase de condicionamiento, y no encontrar diferencias significativas durante la extinción. Aunque el grupo de lengua extranjera presentó una mayor excitación, la extinción del miedo ocurre independientemente del contexto lingüístico. Conclusiones: La extinción del miedo mediante instrucciones verbales es igualmente eficaz en contexto de lengua extranjera y nativa. Estos resultados invitan a seguir reuniendo pruebas sobre el papel de las lenguas extranjeras mediante paradigmas con aplicaciones clínicas.

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