(In)sensitivity to threat and (in)sensitivity to affiliative reward as risk factors for personality dysfunction and psychopathology: The first comprehensive test of a new theoretical model

The new Sensitivity to Threat and Affiliative Reward (STAR) model provides a full picture of testable alternatives for different forms of personality dysfunction and psychopathology in the event of discordance across sensitivity to threat (fear) and affiliative reward. The proposed BOF study is the first study worldwide that is specifically designed to comprehensively test if the theorized interactions between (low) fear and (low) affiliative reward are related to personality dysfunction and psychopathology. Participants (age 16-17 years) will be recruited from schools (targeted N = 5,000; 50% girls). They will first complete various self-report questionnaires and computer tasks that measures sensitivity to threat, affiliative reward, and different forms of personality dysfunction and psychopathology (Year 1).To guarantee that the data-collection in Year 1 is not jeopardized by unexpected COVID-19 restrictions, questionnaires and computer task will be completed online (GorillaTM). A subsample of adolescents will be invited for an add-on study in my lab, based on their levels of sensitivity to threat and affiliative reward (Year 1-2). This add-on study includes novel and established computer tasks (with physiological and/or attentional indicators) that tap deficits/anomalies in sensitivity to fear, affiliative reward, and emotion processing. At two subsequent online follow-up assessments (Year 3 and 4), participants will again complete self-report questionnaires of sensitivity to threat and affiliative reward, which will enables me to scrutinize homo- and heterotypic continuity of sensitivity to fear and affiliative reward. In Year 4, participants also will complete self-report questionnaires of (mal)adjustment, which will enable me to scrutinize the prognostic usefulness of sensitivity to threat and affiliative reward. Taken together, the proposed BOF study will put Ghent University and me at the forefront of research on the STAR model and will enable me to initiate a new collaboration with the STAR developer (Rebecca Waller, University of Pennsylvania), which ultimately may pave the way for joint grant applications.