can rachmans indirect pathways be used to unlearn fear a prospective paradigm to test whether childrens fears can be reduced using positive information and modelling a nonanxious response this study investigated whether childrens fears could be unlearned using rachmans indirect pathways for learning fear we hypothesised that positive information and modelling a nonanxious response are effective methods of unlearning fears acquired through verbal information one hundred and seven children aged 68 years received negative information about one animal and no information about another fear beliefs and behavioural avoidance were measured children were randomised to receive positive verbal information modelling or a control task fear beliefs and behavioural avoidance were measured again positive information and modelling led to lower fear beliefs and behavioural avoidance than the control condition positive information was more effective than modelling in reducing fear beliefs and both methods significantly reduced behavioural avoidance the results support rachmans indirect pathways as viable fear unlearning pathways and supports associative learning theories