WJEC Psychology PY2 Bennett-Levy & Marteau Aims & Context

Bennett-Levy & Marteau

Aims & Context

Seligman suggested that we have a 'biological preparedness' to fear certain animals, which we inherited from our ancestors who had direct experiences with these animals. He said that the preparedness was innate and therefore we are born with it.

Mineka showed wild and lab reared monkeys videos and clips of other monkeys being scared of fear-relevant objects (such as a toy or real snake). She found that the wild monkeys showed more fear towards the toy snakes than the lab reared monkeys, which showed more of a mild response mixed with curiosity…