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CHAPTER 7 172 Figure 1. The experimental set-up (not to scale) in the Exposure + approach condition (left) and the Exposure only condition (right). Next, 20 exposure trials were performed. Exposure trials were performed with the jar open if that was how the initial BAT had been performed (Exposure + approach n = 1; Exposure only n = 1). The experimenter put the jar with the spider on the cart at the starting point. In the Exposure + approach condition, participants were asked: “Please pull the spider toward the closest point that would make you feel a little frightened, but of which you are sure you can handle it”. Participants were free to choose any distance. After doing so, they rated their fear (0-100). The experimenter subsequently pulled the cart back to its starting point. If fear was rated 25 or higher, the trial was repeated. If fear was lower than 25, the participant was asked to pull the spider somewhat closer on the next trial to ensure fear was activated at each trial. If Participant Experimenter Participant Experimenter