Empirical test of a general process model of threat and defense: A systematic examination of the affective-motivational processes underlying proximal and distal reactions to threat

The general process model of threat and defense (Jonas et al., 2014) states that a common affective-motivational mechanism underlies threat-related solution strategies and threat-unrelated palliative responses to solvable and unsolvable (i.e., existential) threats. In a series of three studies (Ntotal = 683), we systematically tested the assumption that threat induces anxiety proximally (that is, immediately after a threat yet before a defense) and defense activates approach motivation distally (that is, after a defense has been implemented). We used an experimental design to manipulate both threat and defense and measured people's affective-motivational states following threat (proximal response) and following defense (distal response). We assessed people's proximal responses to unsolvable threats (mortality salience in Study 1; generalized uncontrollability in Study 2) and solvable threats (relationship conflict in Study 3). For the proximal threat response, the results showed that solvable and unsolvable threats activated feelings of anxiety proximally, mediated by increased need and expectancy discrepancies. A merged data analysis showed the predicted motivational function of defense following threat: Participants reported higher approach-related affect after engaging in resolution or palliation (but not after being distracted). Defensive engagement enhanced approach motivation only in the threat conditions. The findings support the notion that threat-unrelated palliation and threat-related resolution both reactivate approach motivation.

Automated summary

This study provides evidence that anxiety is elicited after a threat but before defense, and defense activates approach motivation after it has been implemented. The results indicate that both solvable and unsolvable threats activate anxiety through increased need and expectancy discrepancies. Defense behavior enhances approach motivation, but only in the presence of a threat.