Showing papers in "Psychological Reports in 1968"

Sex differences in body-weight change following gonadectomy of rats.

Abstract: Data are presented to demonstrate that the effects of gonadectomy on body weight and food consumption differ in male and female rats. The findings are related to the authors' report of sex differen...

Effect of stigmatizing conditions on the use of personal space.

Abstract: Two studies examine the use of personal space by persons in interactions involving stigmatized individuals. In the first, responses on a figure-placement task and on an attitude questionnaire are compared. In the second, interactions involving a person believed to have epilepsy are examined in regard to both initial interaction distance and eye contact. The expectation that the ascription of epilepsy to a stranger will result in less proximate interaction than in the case in which epilepsy is not ascribed to the stranger is supported. Degree of eye contact, however, was found not to differ for stigmatized and non-stigmatized interactions.

Dating and physical attractiveness: Replication.

Abstract: Walster, et al. (1966) held a dance at the University of Minnesota at which 752 men and women were randomly paired to form 376 couples. Ss did not know their dates prior to contact at the dance. Although a number of hypotheses were made relating different measures to the desire for future dating, the only correlate with desire to date has been the partner's social desirability, operationally defined in the study as the parrner's rated physical attractiveness. The present smdy is n replication of Walster with several minor changes. The number of Ss, college freshmen and sophomores, is smaller; N = 58. Thus 29 couples, strangers before the dance, were randomly formed with the qualification that the boy be mller than the girl, as in the original scudy. The small N made the dance manageable and conceivably allowed Ss to interact with several other people present. Another measure of social desirability was gathered in addition co physical attractiveness: the parrner's \"sociability\" defined by the question, \"How sociable or outgoing does your date seem?\" Questions also asked about similarity of interests, animdes, religious orientation, values, and intelligence of date. All questions were answered on a 7-point scale. \"lnterescs\" was not an item on the Walster questionnaire. In addition, the question was asked, \"Is there anyone else here at the party who you would like to dare in the fumre. If so, whom?\" The questionnaire was administered to men and women in separate rooms 2 hr. after the dance started. The criterion measure was the question, \"Would you like to go out with your date in the future?\" Ss answered on a 7-point scale ranging from definitely to definitely not. The following Pearsonian correlation coefficients give the relationship between the predictors and \"desire to date\" criterion: physical attractiveness, s = .89; sociable, s = .60; similar interests, r = .64 (df = 56, p < .O1 in all cases). There were no differences between predictor and criterion for men and women. For both sexes the attractiveness-desire to date correlation was .89 (df = 27, p < .01). The question asking who else might be dated yielded 1 4 names, 13 of whom were rated as very attractive ( 6 or 7 on a 7-point scale) by the person's date and by two independent raters who acted as chaperones. Assuming that the names of 7 attractive people would have been obtained by chance, 13 people out of 14 is significant at the .O1 level by a binomial test. N o other correlates of desire to date were found. The findings strongly support the Walscer data, especially the high correlation between attractiveness and desire to date. This correlation also supports the notion that it is very rewarding to be with someone who is physically attractive.

Cognitive and emotional components of test anxiety: temporal factors.

Abstract: Two investigations of the relationship between “worry” (W) and “emotionality” (E), components of test anxiety, and performance expectancy are reported. Undergraduate and graduate students responded...

Chemical interactions in methamphetamine reinforcement.

Abstract: Responding by rats was reinforced by intravenous infusions of 0.5 mg/kg methamphetamine hydrochloride. The effects of intraperitoneal injections of various doses of methamphetamine, alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (AMPT) and 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (1-DOPA) were determined on this baseline. Intraperitoneally-administered methamphetamine produced a dose-related pause in responding, apparently indicating drug satiation. Injections of AMPT caused responding either to increase at low doses, or, at intermediate and high doses, to increase, then cease altogether, and finally return at a high rate which decreases to baseline. Injections of 1-DOPA had no noticeable effect on drug responding. Some biochemical implications of these data were discussed.

Relation of Anxiety to Locus of Control

Abstract: Several recent studies have reported significant relationships between various measures of general anxiety, test anxiety, and the locus of control scale (LC). Watson (1967) concluded that the correlation between locus of control and anxiety supports Mandler and Watson's (1966) hypothesis that actual or appraised lack of control (high external locus of control) produces anxiety. In order to determine whether there exists an anxiety factor within the locus of control scale, the Manifest Anxiety Scale (MAS), the Test Anxiety Scale (TAS), and the LC scale were administered to two samples of introductory psychology students at Vanderbilt University (N, = 323; Nq = 303). In an item analysis every item on the LC scale answered in exteral locus of control direction correlated postively with total score (high anxiety) on the MAS and TAS. However, the correlation of only 3 items from the LC scale actually reached significance ( p < .05) with the TAS and MAS in both samples (the significant IS ranged from . I 2 to .34). Total scores on the LC scale and the MAS were significantly correlated in both samples (sl = .40, rz = .30; p < .01). The LC scale and the TAS were also significantly correlated (sl = .22, r:! = .21; p < .01). A factor analysis using varimax rotation demonstrated that these significant correlations could not be explained in terms of an anxiety factor composed of highly correlated individual items on the LC scale which, when removed, would reduce the degree of relationship between the anxiety scales and the remaining locus of control items. These findings support the proposition that the anxiety scales and the LC scale are measuring conceptually separate variables which correlate with each other and that this correlation is not due to a hidden anxiety factor within the locus of control scale. A feeling of lack of control over the environment and the outcome of one's actions is associated with anxiety. Whether this appraised lack of control produces anxiety, or vice versa, cannot, of course, be determined from correlational studies of this type.

Personality correlates of actual self-disclosure.

Abstract: A questionnaire which obtained actual self-disclosure about five topics—interests, personality, studies, body, and money—and instruments which measured seven personality traits were administered to...

Role of assessment in behavior modification.

Abstract: The recent introduction of a broad range of behavior modification techniques has brought into focus several questions and issues of concern to clinicians and researchers. The particular problem dis...

Distraction Hypothesis in Attitude Change: Effects of Effectiveness

Abstract: A recent study by Festinger and Maccoby (1964) demonstrated that distraction raises the effectiveness of a communication. This effect may obtain because the distraction interferes with (subvocal) counter-arguing or because the distraction requires more effort to listen and thus arouses dissonance. The present experiment was designed to test these alternative hypotheses, Ss were exposed to 4 counter-attitudinal communications. Interference during the communication and credibility of the communicator were orthogonally manipulated. The distraction hypothesis predicted that high interference would increase communication effectiveness most under high credibility of the communicator. The effort hypothesis predicted that the greatest increase due to high interference would obtain when the communicator was low in credibilty. The results supported the distraction hypothesis. In addition, interference reduced communication effectiveness under low credibility. The implication of these results for the distraction hyp...

Emotion-Trait Interrelations and the Measurement of Personality:

Abstract: To relate personality concepts to emotion concepts 12 personality trait items were selected on the basis of explicit criteria to represent the trait universe. These terms were paired in all possible combinations and used as a self-report personality test. The scoring categories, however, were based on a theory of emotion which assumes that personality traits can be conceptualized as mixtures of primary emotions. Since the primary emotions are conceived in terms of polar opposites the theory is able to specify the relative degree of conflict implied by each personality trait. The test was given to 3 groups of women equated for IQ, age and income but varying in degree of maladjustment. Two of the groups were hospitalized patients. Results showed that the groups varied significantly in the frequency of choices of high- and low-conflict traits according to theory. Each group had a distinctive emotion profile. An example of the clinical use of the test is given.

Vicarious extinction of avoidance behavior through films: an initial test.

Abstract: In a recent study, Bandura, Grusec, and Menlove (1967) provided evidence that children's phobias may be vicariously extinguished through the direct observation of a fearless peer model. Groups of preschool children who displayed a considerable fear of dogs observed another child make progressively longer and more active advances to a live dog during eight modeling sessions. Control groups met for an equal number of sessions but were not exposed to the model's performance. The modeIing procedures proved to be highly effective in increasing these children's willingness to approach dogs when compared to the controls. The present study was designed to explore the possibiliry that a similar effect can be produced with filmed rather than live models. Assessment of avoidance behavior, both before and after the presentation of modeling films, was made by asking the children to stand at the distal end of an 18-ft. runway which led to a play pen containing a large German shepherd. The children were asked to "walk toward the dog as close as you want to go" and, if they approached to zero feet, were asked to pet the dog and feed him a piece of frankfurter. Of 40 preschool boys thus tested, 18 did not initially approach to zero feet. These children were divided into two groups, matched for initial avoidance, and used for the remainder of the experiment. The nine male Ss in the film-modeling group saw an 11-min. color film sequence depicting a series of interactions between a large German shepherd and another child of their age and sex. The control group, matched for initial avoidance of dogs, was not exposed to this manipulation. The film, which was accompanied by a sound-track, was analogous to the procedures used by Bandura, et al., in that the modeled aversive stimuli gradually increased in intensity. Thus, the first scene of the film shows Peter, who is 10-yr.-old, playing with the dog, "Champie." Then Eric, aged 4, gradually approaches Champie and is only later shown interacting vigorously with him. The final scenes show Eric and Peter playing together with Champie. The subsequent post-test revealed that eight of the nine boys in the film group were now willing to approach, pet, and feed the live dog. Only three of the nine boys in the control group approached to zero feet during this post-test. A Fisher's Exact Test reveals a probability of .03 for this difference between groups (or one more suggestive) occurring by chance. These findings are, of course, no more than an initial demonstration. An extensive research program is planned to provide a detailed examination of the possibilities and limitation of "film-therapy" of the rype described in this report.'

Hypnosis reconceptualized: an overview of Barber's theoretical and empirical work.

Abstract: This paper provides a summary and clarification of Barber's reconceptualization of “hypnosis” and contrasts it with the traditional approach. Traditional hypnosis theory assumes that a special state of consciousness (the hypnotic trance state) is instrumental in eliciting “hypnotic” behaviors. Barber rejects this basic assumption and focuses on denotable antecedent variables that are functionally related to the behaviors. Differences in assumptions underlying the two approaches have led to fundamental differences in methodology, in the types of questions asked, and in the explanations provided. All available criticisms of Barber's work are discussed and evaluated.

Multi-Dimensional Approach to the Experimental Study of Interpersonal Attraction: Effect of a Blunder on the Attractiveness of a Competent other

Abstract: Factor-analysis was used to explore the feasibility of a multidimensional approach to the study of interpersonal attraction in an experimental context. S completed a battery of attraction items concerning an O he heard on tape. In a 2 × 2 × 2 design, O either blundered or not, was the same age or older than 5, and held similar or different opinions. These attraction ratings were then factor-analyzed and factor scores later used in analyses of variance for experimental conditions. The two factors extracted were related to socio-emotional and task-related aspects of interpersonal attraction. Interestingly enough, the Similarity dimension was significant on both of these independent factors. The study provides support for a multi-dimensional conceptualization of interpersonal attraction.

Perception of Emotion and Response to Teachers' Expectancy by Elementary School Children:

Abstract: Within each of 6 elementary school grades, a randomly selected 23% of the children were reported to their teachers as showing unusual potential for intellectual gains. All Ss were also administered a task designed to measure the accuracy of their perception of vocal communications of emotion by male and female speakers. After 4 mo. the “special” children scoring high in accuracy of perception of emotion as expressed by a female speaker showed significantly greater profit from the teachers' favorable expectations than did those low in accuracy. “Special” male Ss high in accuracy in perceiving emotion in a male showed significantly less profit from the expectancy after 4 mo. but significantly greater profit after being away from the teacher who received the expectancy for a 1-yr. period.

Programmed instruction for institutionalized offenders: contingency management and performance contracts.

Abstract: Contractual agreements and contingency management procedures were used in an attempt to increase the productivity of 16 prison inmates studying programmed educational materials. Programmed instruct...

Control of eating behavior in an obese patient by avoidance conditioning.

Abstract: A behavioral treatment utilizing avoidance conditioning with an obese patient is described. Favorite foods (CS) were paired with a highly noxious odor (UCS) in the conditioning paradigm and a weigh...

An application of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for normality with estimated mean and variance.

Abstract: Psychologists often have occasion to test whether their obtained data could reasonably have been drawn from a normal population. In his important paper, Massey (1951) hinted that potentially, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test might be useful in this regard though he cautioned that the distribution of the relevant statistic (D) was unknown when the mean and variance of the population were unknown and had to be estimated from the sample. Preliminary data reported by Massey implied (Rosenthal, 1967, p. 519) that in testing for normality, Ds only .7 as large as those tabulated (by Massey, Table 1; Siegel, 1956, Table E)

Personality Characteristics and Personal History Data of Successful and Less Successful Executives

Abstract: From a population of 150 executives employed by a medium-sized utilities company, 30 highly successful and 30 less successful executives were selected on the basis of (1) salary level, (2) company job title, (3) job number as listed in the Hayes salary survey, and (4) appraisal performance ratings. Age and length of service were controlled. The Edwards Personal Preference Schedule, the California Psychological Inventory, and a 179-item biographical information blank were administered to all 60 Ss. Five of the 15 scales on the EPPS and 10 of the 18 scales on the CPI significantly discriminated successful and less successful executives. A total of 110 of the 179 BIB items had one or more options that significantly differentiated the two executive groups.

Rapid treatment of gross obesity by operant techniques

Abstract: This paper reports the application of operant techniques in the treatment of a case of gross obesity. The patient weighed 407 lbs. at the initiation of the program, was schizophrenic, and probably had metabolic and/or endocrine dysfunction as contributing factors. Over a period of 6 mo., of which the last 6 wk. were an extinction period, she lost 102 lbs. at a relatively stable rate. At the end of the extinction period, the loss rate had slowed somewhat but showed no indications of reversal. The rapid weight loss, compared to that in earlier studies, is attributed to positive reinforcement for weight lost, in addition to control of caloric intake.

Multivariate Analysis of the WISC Scales for Blind and Sighted Children

Abstract: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the WISC verbal IQ in terms of subtest scores for blind and sighted children. It was hypothesized that subtest variability would be sufficiently different to support a significant discriminant function discriminating blind and sighted groups equated on WISC verbal IQ and age. D2 was significant at the .05 level (F = 6.38, df = 6/107). Blind and sighted groups were distinguished by Information, Similarities, and Digit Span. The results indicated that future studies of the predictive validity of the WISC with blind children should use individual subtests as variables rather than the single verbal IQ measure.

The Marlowe-Crowne, repressor-sensitizer, and internal-external scales and attribution of unconscious hostile intent.

Abstract: Two follow-up experiments demonstrated weak and inconsistent relationships between attribution of unconscious hostile intent and other variables, thus casting doubt on its use as a construct. The Repressor-Sensitizer and Internal-External scales intercorrelated for both sexes, but the Marlowe-Crowne scale was related to the other scales for males only, suggesting that results with this scale should not be generalized across sexes.

Effect of Occupational Prestige and Attitude Similarity on Attraction as a Function of Assumed Similarity of Attitude

Abstract: Previous research has shown that the effect of attitudes on attraction is independent of the prestige or status of the stranger expressing the attitudes. It was hypothesized that in the absence of additional information, attraction toward a stranger is a positive function of his occupational prestige and that attraction is a positive function of assumed attitudinal similarity between stranger and S. Ss were 139 Stanford students who were given either occupational information, attitudinal information, or both types of information about a stranger. It was found that either occupational information alone (p < .02) or attitudinal information alone (p < .001) influences attraction. When the two types of information are combined, as in earlier research, Ss respond only to attitude similarity (p < .001). There was support for the proposed relationship between attraction and assumed similarity (p < .01), but variations across conditions suggest caution in interpreting this finding.

Copulatory Behavior in Rats: Changes as Satiety is Approached

Abstract: Summary.-12 male rats were each given two copulation tests continued to a satiety criterion of 30 min. with no intromissions. In one test the same female was used throughout, while in the other the female was changed after each ejaculation. In addition to previously established phenomena, and independent of changes in the female, ejaculation latency and mean inter-intromission interval increased as satiety was approached. Existent models of the control of rodent copulatory behavior must be revised to account for these changes, as the development of satiery appears more complex than previously thought. Copulatory behavior in rats consists of a sequence of fairly regular and predictable events which may be spaced over a period of several hours. Several theoretical models have been proposed to account for this pattern. The purpose of this paper is to re-examine a basic part of this pattern to be explained by the models, the behavior of male rats as sexual satiety approaches. The copi~latory sequence consists of alternating periods of copulatory activity and inactivity. Each copulation or intromission consists of a vaginal penetration by the male that lasts approximately 0.3 sec. (Pierce & Nuttall, 1961). A group or series of such intromissions is terminated by a longer, distinctive inuomission which constitutes the ejaculation. The period encompassing such a series of intromissions, beginning with an intromission and terminated with the ejaculation is termed the Ejaculation Latency (EL) period and may last from several seconds to many minutes. Each ejaculatory series is characterized by an Intromission ~re~uenc~ (IF), the number of intromissions in the series, h Mount Frequency (MF), the number of mounts by the male that did not result in intromission, and a Mean Inter-intromission Interval (MIII), the mean incerval separating successive intromissions within the series. The periods separating successive ejaculatory series are termed the Post-ejaculatory Intervals (PEI) . If one uses as a criterion for satiety a period of 30 min. with the same female with no intromissions, a mean of about seven ejaculatory series before satiety is typically found. Beach and Jordan ( 1956) described some interesting changes in these measures as a copulatory test progresses. Whereas the first ejaculation was attained with a median EL of 450 sec., later series were shorter with median ELs of about

Psychological distance in disturbed and normal children.

Abstract: In an attempt to determine whether emotionally disturbed children experience more distant psychological relationships than normal children a modified version of Kuethe's social schemata technique was administered to 20 children referred to a treatment center and to 26 control group youngsters. The figures to be replaced on a field consisted of eight social stimuli and four non-social designs presented in 12 different combinations of pairs. No significant systematic directional differences in replacement distances for emotionally disturbed as compared with normal children were found. There were, however, significant age and stimulus effects. Moreover, the patient group exhibited less over-all accuracy in distance judgments than the non-disturbed children.

Verbal cues in the mediation of experimenter bias.

Abstract: In a replication of Rosenthal's experimenter bias study, 6 male Es obtained significantly higher ratings when expecting high ratings from their 5 female Ss than when expecting low ratings (n = 5 ea...

Variability of Response Location during Regular and Partial Reinforcement

Abstract: 4 pigeons were trained to peck an 8-location response strip for grain reinforcement and given 14-session exposures to variable interval and regular reinforcement schedules. Regardless of the sequence of reinforcement schedules, partial reinforcemen produced greater response-location variability along the topographical response continuum than did regular reinforcement.

Intercorrelational Analysis of Some Common Measures of Rat Activity

Abstract: An intercorrelational analysis was performed on the measures of responding generated In Williamson Jiggle Cages, photocell cages, a revolving drum, a circular field, and a double-bar lever-pressing apparatus. The results showed that these measures were essentially independent of one another, though responding decayed in a consistent manner over the 2-hr. test session. Thus, these activity measuring devices assess different aspects of behavior although they are uniformly sensitive to the animal's habituation to the test environment.

New Measure of Effects of Persuasive Communications: A Chemical Indicator of Toothbrushing Behavior

Abstract: The purpose of the present investigation was to develop a behavioral measure of attitude change and examine its utility for large-scale field research efforts. Three groups were formed from 68 junior and senior high school students and each was presented with a different form (positive, fear, neutral) of a communication within the context of a public school system's ongoing dental hygiene program. Cleanliness of their teeth was measured by a chemical in tablet form called a “disclosing tablet” which, when chewed, stains red the areas of concentration of bacterial placque on the teeth. This study involved taking a 35-mm. color slide of each S's mouth before and 2 wk. after the experimental communication. Preliminary results lend support to the effectiveness and utility of this procedure in assessing behavioral change within a natural setting.

Suppression of pain by sound

Abstract: Data indicating the effectiveness of audio-analgesia are presented.

Brief Method for Assessing Social-Personal Orientation

Abstract: Summary.-This srcdy reports the development of a brief measure of the construct "social-personal orientation" (SPO), defined as a tendency to define one's self-concept primarily in terms of social experiences or in rerms independent of social relntionships. Choices of "social" or "personal" terms on a 30-item adjective checklist were stable and internally consistent in three samples of college studects. Evidence on construct validity of the measure was obtained from responses of 88 males and 75 females to the Carlson Adjective Checklist and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) . Predicted sex differences and relationships of SPO to Sensation-Intuition and Thinking-Feeling type scores on the MBTI were confirmed at the ,001 level. Among the most pervasive individual differences to be found in personality literamre is a basic difference between people who see themselves as intrinsically involved with others and those who do not. Such a. disposition to respond to the social implications of experience has been variously represented in personality theory as a trait (e.g., sociability), a need (e.g., affiliation) an erg (e.g., gregariousness), or a type (e.g., extravert); an extensive literature of methodological and substantive research attests to the ubiquity of a socialresponsiveness variable. The present study reports the development of a brief measure of the construct "social-personal orientation" as an aspect of the self-concept. Socialpersonal orientation (SPO) refers to a tendency to define one's self-concept either in terms of social relationships or in terms independent of social relationships. No value connotations are implied by these terms: Social Orientation does not mean "other-directedness," "fitting-in," but simply means being positively oriented toward leople; Personal Orientation does not imply "selfishness" or "defensive withdrawal," but means being positively oriented toward qualities and experiences which are not primarily social. SPO may be distinguished from more inclusive, more "dynamic" formulations of a social responsiveness variable in that it (a) represents conscious cognitions which the person uses in organizing his experiences and (b) describes qualitatively whether one is socially or personally oriented, not how much or in what ways. Previous work established relationships between a questionnaire measure of SPO and indices of self-esteem, sociometric status, and parental identification in preadolescents (Carlson, 1963). Sex differences in the development and the correlates of SPO were found in a longitudinal study of adolescent development (Carlson, 1965), and later pilot investigations with adults yielded significant sex differences in SPO and relationships of SPO co Introversion-Extraversion type scores on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.