The influences of individual differences and experimenter behavior on the effectiveness of the subliminal psychodynamic activation method.
Item
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Title
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The influences of individual differences and experimenter behavior on the effectiveness of the subliminal psychodynamic activation method.
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Identifier
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AAI9000077
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identifier
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9000077
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Creator
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Zimmerman, James Kuper.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Steven J. Ellman
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Date
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1989
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Clinical
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Abstract
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The present research was a replication and extension of studies using the subliminal psychodynamic activation method (Silverman et al, 1982). The replication measured the effect of experimental and control stimuli (MOMMY AND I ARE ONE and PEOPLE ARE WALKING, respectively) on subjects' anxiety level as reflected in prepost scores on the State Trait Personality Inventory (STPI (Spielberger, 1979)). The extension included a between-groups manipulation of the behavior of the experimenter to appear "Supportive" or "Confrontive", creating a 2 x 2 matrix (message condition-by-experimenter behavior style) for statistical analysis. Further, a questionnaire administered after tachistoscopic exposure assessed subjects' attitudes toward the experimenter; also, a measure of subjects' tendencies toward rigid or diffuse self/other boundaries (the Boundary/Fusion Test (Miller et al, in press)) was obtained.;Contrary to prediction, interaction with the Supportive experimenter combined with exposure to MOMMY AND I ARE ONE did not lead to the greatest reduction in STPI Anxiety. Among males, this group reported an Anxiety increase, and only the interaction of experimenter and message conditions was statistically significant. Among females, both groups exposed to MOMMY AND I ARE ONE showed decreases in mean Anxiety scores, but the reduction was greater when the interaction was with the Confrontive experimenter. The above findings occurred despite the fact that Ss were clearly able to delineate between the two experimenter behavior styles.;It was also found that Ss who participated in further research scored significantly lower on Boundary than those who did not, and higher on Fusion (although the difference was not statistically significant).;Although no predictions regarding STPI Anger had been made before research was undertaken, it was found that, for females, Anger functioned inversely to Anxiety, whereas all male groups except one experienced a mean Anger increase.;Findings were discussed in terms of Silverman's concept of an "overdose" of subliminal stimulation, and in relation to early transference manifestations in treatment. Several other theoretical constructs regarding the present findings were also addressed, as was the implementation of more stringent controls to avoid confounded results in future research.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
