Role of Perception in Differentiating Subtypes of Alcoholism1Fuller, Gerald B.; Lunney, Gerald H.; Naylor, William M.
doi: 10.1177/003151256602303s01pmid: N/A
Summary.—A perceptual and a personality test were administered to 694 alcoholic patients to establish whether there were perceptual differences and, if so, to see what personality variables accompany perceptual differences. Three separate groups of alcoholics were identified along what might be called an intact-deteriorated continuum of perception. However, the groups differed on only three MMPI personality variables (L, F, and Hs). Differences between groups for age, IQ, and education were significant. When these variables were controlled, groups were still significantly different on the perceptual task and the three MMPI scales. Characteristics of the groups were discussed in relation to Witkin's work. It was clear that perceptual variability among alcoholics is appreciable.
Functional Similarity of Imaging to Perceiving: Individual Differences in Vividness of ImagerySheehan, Peter Winston
doi: 10.2466/pms.1966.23.3f.1011pmid: 5972885
Ss vary in the degree of vividness of their imagery. It is hypothesized that different degrees of correspondence between imaging and perceptual behavior are associated with individual differences in reported vividness of imagery. Results support the hypothesis of a functional similarity between imaging and perceiving. Vivid imagers behave in a way similar to the way they behave when they perceive; poor imagers behave in both a similar and dissimilar fashion. Vivid imagery reinstitutes the accuracy of the perceiving process. Differences in experience with the object imaged do not account for the variation in vividness, although familiarity with the stimulus has some effect on the quality of imagery expressed. Familiarity with the object imaged makes for more vivid imagery only in those Ss who have the capacity to image vividly.
Effect of White Noise on Disinhibition of Verbal ExpressionHolmes, Cooper; Holzman, Philip S.
doi: 10.2466/pms.1966.23.3f.1039pmid: 5972888
Two groups each composed of 10 male Ss were required to tell E about an embarrassing situation, in nonsense language, under two conditions: with white noise masking their speech and without white noise. 16 of 20 Ss uttered more English words and 18 of 20 talked for a greater length of time in the white noise condition. Latency was not significantly affected by the white noise. The average number of syllables spoken per 15 sec. was significantly greater under white noise, for both groups combined and separately only for the second or replication group. The results are interpreted to indicate a process of disinhibition of speech under white noise.
Effects upon Anxiety, Depression, and Hostility of Postponement of an ExaminationLieberman, Lewis R.
doi: 10.2466/pms.1966.23.3f.1051pmid: 5972891
This study investigated the effects upon affective responses of students when a course examination was postponed twice. 44 students in a college English class were given the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List (MAACL) two days before the scheduled examination and were asked to fill it out every day for 2 wk. as a study of moods. Results indicated a rise in anxiety, depression, hostility for each exam day but a decline in intensity over the 3 exam days. Compared to students who did well on the exam, poor students were generally more hostile, were made more hostile by the imminent examination, and remained more hostile on the day following the exam.
Sensory Dominance in Normal and Backward ReadersBakker, Dirk J.
doi: 10.2466/pms.1966.23.3f.1055pmid: 5972892
32 children (10 normal readers, 10 non-resistant backward readers, and 12 resistant backward readers) were examined for visual and kinaesthetic sensitivity, as measured by a difference-threshold procedure. Birch's hypothesis that the failure of the visual system to be dominant in sensory systems may lead to reading difficulties was tested. To verify this hypothesis the rank-differences, S's visual minus his kinaesthetic threshold rank, should be larger in backward than in normal readers. Results support the hypothesis In addition, it appeared that the dyslectics differ from normal readers not so much by greater kinaesthetic as by lower visual sensitivity. The existence of a smaller visual dominance in dyslectics may be responsible for kinaesthetic interference in the visual information process in reading.
Time Orientation and Perceptual and Cognitive OrganizationKahn, Paul
doi: 10.2466/pms.1966.23.3f.1059pmid: 5972893
It was hypothesized that time orientation in children (N = 44) would be related to degrees of perceptual and cognitive organization. Two measures of time orientation were used, (a) time perception (judgment of intervals) and (b) time span (future time perspective). Perceptual organization was a measure of Ss' responses to Rorschach cards representing increasing degrees of organization. Cognitive organization represented increasing degrees of organization of Ss' responses to a word association test given under non-pressure conditions. Time orientation was significantly related to cognitive organization and to a lesser degree to perceptual organization. On the measure of time perception, overestimation was associated with low organization and underestimation with high organization. On the measure of time span, projecting into the future was related to high organization. The measures of time were related to each other but no positive relationship was obtained between the measures of organization.