Psychological Bulletin

Epley, Stephen W.

doi: 10.1037/h0036389pmid: 4607761

A review of the literature suggests that the presence of companions can reduce both the magnitude and frequency of reactions to aversive or stressful stimuli under either of 2 conditions: (a) the presence of a calm companion when the stimuli are presented; or (b) the presence of a companion that can interfere with the S's reactions to an aversive stimulus. Relatively little evidence exists to support the conclusion that the simple physical presence of others is sufficient in itself to reduce reactions to a disturbing situation. Discrepancies in the results of studies employing secondary or acquired sources of aversive motivation and those employing primary sources suggest that the presence of others may diminish fear or anxiety but not specific responses to a situation that is in itself painful. Studies of physiological reactions to aversive stimuli provide only mixed support for the notion that the presence of others diminishes these reactions. (74 ref)

Freides, David

doi: 10.1037/h0036331pmid: 4608609

Reviews studies on the relationship between sensory modality and information processing. Available hypotheses concerning modality influence were not supported, but an interaction between modality and information complexity could be discerned. With simpler information (reaction signals and unidimensional discriminations) modalities are equivalent; contextual and parametric factors determine intermodal relations. With complex information (spatial or temporal patterns) specific modalities are adept with certain kinds of information, and what is received in nonadept modalities is recoded in the most adept. Generalizations about modality-information interactions depend on control of response factors. Implications of data and generalizations for theories of memory, for measuring deficit in pathology, and for resolving the nativism-empiricism controversy are discussed. (5 p ref)

Carr, Anthony T.

doi: 10.1037/h0036473pmid: 4609308

Examines the literature relating to obsessions and compulsions from the early identification of the syndrome to contemporary theorizing. The essential characteristic of compulsion is subjective resistance and stereotypy alone is insufficient to delineate the disorder. There is a distinction to be made between symptoms and traits, and the use of the term obsessional personality to describe a careful, thorough, and punctual person is misleading. Compulsive disorders (both cognitive and motor) are dependent on anxiety in the acute stages, and overt symptoms (whether active or passive) serve to reduce anxiety. Existing learning theory models are inadequate, but recent approaches using decision theory concepts are more promising and can incorporate those instances in which conditioning principles apply as special cases. (53 ref)