Use of avoidance and vigilance by repressors and sensitizers.

Elucidated the relationship between repression-sensitization (R-S) scale scores and the use of repression and sensitization as demonstrated behaviorally under different degrees of stress, using 90 male undergraduates as Ss. The following hypotheses were not supported: (a) repressors on the R-S scale will avoid the threatening stimuli at some point on a defense profile; (b) sensitizers on the R-S scale will be vigilant at some point on a defense profile; (c) as stress increases, repressors will increase their use of avoidance, and (d) as stress increases, sensitizers will increase their vigilance. In light of recent research it is concluded that the definitions and assumptions of the R-S scale should be reevaluated. (22 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationship between repression-sensitization and interpersonal cognitive complexity.

Administered Byrne's Repression-Sensitization (R-S) scale to 82 undergraduates. Ss then completed the Role Construct Repertory Test (G. Kelly), a measure of interpersonal cognitive complexity. An analysis of variance indicated a significant difference between R-S levels in terms of their interpersonal cognitive complexities. Multiple comparisons revealed that both sensitizers and neutrals were more cognitively complex than repressors. The negative category of role figures indicated more complexity across R-S levels than did the positive category. No interaction, however, was found between R-S levels and categories of role figures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Habituation of the orienting response as a function of individual differences in anxiety and autonomic lability.

Evaluated the role of individual differences in anxiety and autonomic lability on the habituation of GSR responses to auditory stimuli of moderate and very low intensity. 60 male undergraduate Ss were used. They were divided into high- and low-anxious groups on the basis of Taylor MA scale scores and high and low autonomic lability groups on the basis of spontaneous GSR activity during a rest period. No relationship between Taylor score and GSR habituation was obtained for either stimulus intensity. Autonomically labile Ss showed no habituation to the moderate tone, but did habituate to the low intensity tone. Autonomically stabile Ss habituated to both tones. It was concluded that individual differences in autonomic lability may predict whether an S will respond to moderate intensities with orienting or defensive reactions. (33 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relationship between a measure of transitory anxiety and spontaneous autonomic activity.

The effects of stress (threat of shock) on GSR nonspecific responses were evaluated for Ss who differed in transitory anxiety as measured by the Affect Adjective Check List (AACL). 52 Ss were equally divided among 4 groups: Hi AACL Stress, Lo AACL Stress, Hi AACL Nonstress, and Lo AACL Nonstress. 1st, all Ss rested; then both Stress groups were threatened with shock, while both Nonstress groups continued resting; finally, all Ss rested again. During the 2nd period GSR nonspecifics increased for both stress groups; however, during the final period, after the cessation of stress, GSR nonspecifics decreased more for the Lo AACL Ss than for the Hi AACL Ss. It was concluded that the AACL may be related to "autonomic recovery rate." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Choice of delay of inevitable shock.

Human Ss tended to choose a short, rather than a long, delay of inevitable shock; the longer the delay the less tendency there was to choose it. Over trials, preference for the 0 delay at first decreased and then increased. This U shaped curve was much less marked in the high-shock group than in the low. Ss in the low-shock group tended to choose the 0 delay on 2 or 3 trials (out of 6); but Ss in the high-shock group tended to choose it either on 5 or 6 trials, or not at all. Threatening S with an even stronger shock enhanced the tendency to choose the 0 delay. Reaction time was fairly stable throughout. GSR at the instant of shock showed no consistent pattern. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The repression-sensitization dimension in relation to impeding painful stimulation.

Attempted to replicate previous findings of differences between self-report and physiological indices of disturbance in repressors and sensitizers placed in threatening situations. 8 male and 52 female undergraduates chosen on the basis of their score on Byrne's Repression-Sensitization scale were divided into 4 groups of 15 Ss each. Ss in the shock condition were given a number of painful electric shocks; the control Ss were given similar but painless vibratory stimulation. Indices of electrodermal activity were recorded, and the A-State scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was administered. Results indicate that repressors admit to less anxiety on the self-report measure while producing more physiological reactivity to threat of shock. No such differences were obtained in the control condition. Results are discussed in light of repression-sensitization theory. (16 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Repression-sensitization and processing of favorable and adverse information

One hundred forty-two female Ss divided into repressors and sensitizers by their median score on the R-S scale received either a favorable or an unfavorable evaluation of themselves, both discrepant at a similar degree from their own self-evaluation. Sensitizers, in comparison to repressors, exhibited greater adoption of the negative evaluation and acceptance of its source, but less acceptance of the positive evaluation and its source. These results were explained as providing support for the contention that repressors and sensitizers differ in their willingness to assign negative vs. positive qualities to one's self and to endorse internal conflict rather than in their choice of defense mechanisms in the face of threatening information.     

Arousal level in repressors and sensitizers as a function of response context.

Gave 30 male and 30 female undergraduate repressors and sensitizers "noncontextual" and "contextual" tasks, with GSR as a measure of arousal. In the contextual situation, Ss were aware that they would be required to give free associations which might be self-revealing. In the noncontextual situation, Ss were not aware that they would eventually be required to form free associations. Results from the noncontextual task show that repressors had lower arousal levels than sensitizers during perception and verbal report, but higher during free association. Findings were reversed in the contextual condition. Analogies were drawn to the behavior of repressors (hysterics) and sensitizers (obsessive-compulsives) in psychoanalysis: repressors are more easily aroused by the free association condition, whereas sensitizers are able to use free association to diminish emotional reactivity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Repression-sensitization: A measure of the evaluation of emotional expression.

To explore the meaning of repression-sensitization (R-S) scales, Ss' interpretations of Byrne's R-S Scale were solicited. Repressors were found to interpret the scale as an indicator of mental illness while sensitizers construed the measure as concerning honesty with one's self. In a 2nd study, repressors and sensitizers differed in their use of affect-ideation terms in describing TAT figures. When the TAT measure was described as a mental illness measure, however, the use of emotional words decreased most significantly for sensitizers. An interpretation of R-S Scale performance in terms of Ss' evaluations of emotionally is offered. (20 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Trust, trustworthiness, and the F scale.

"Ss played an interprersonal game which, in one position, required them to choose between being trusting or suspicious of another and, in a second position, required them to choose between being trustworthy or untrustworthy toward another. There was a striking tendency for Ss who were trusting to be trustworthy and for Ss who were suspicious to be untrustworthy. F scale scores correlated significantly with game behavior; Ss with Low scores tended to be Trusting and Trustworthy while Ss with High scores tended to be Suspicious and Untrustworthy in their game choices." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-disclosure and expectations for psychotherapy in repressors and sensitizers.

Identified 2 groups of 49 university students as repressors and sensitizers based on scores on Byrnes's Repression-Sensitization Scale. Ss completed the Jourard Self-Disclosure Questionnaire and a Likert-type scale rating dimensions of psychotherapy to assess effects of defensive orientation on expectations for a psychotherapy relationship. Repressors indicated significantly more willingness than sensitizers to self-disclose during the 1st 4 hrs of therapy. Repressors expected more planned than spontaneous activity by the therapist, felt therapist personality less important than sensitizers in facilitating change, and rated themselves significantly less likely than sensitizers to enter psychotherapy in the future. Results are discussed within the framework of repressing and sensitizing defensive styles. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationship between repression-sensitization and a measure of self-actualization.

Tested 55 male and 55 female undergraduates on Byrne's Repression-Sensitization (R-S) scale and the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI), a measure of self-actualization, to determine the relationship between these variables. Findings reveal significant sex differences on 10 of 12 POI scales, with females scoring higher than males. All 12 POI scales were found to be negatively and significantly related to R-S scores for each sex and for total Ss, and all but 2 of the comparisons were significant beyond the .001 level. Results provide additional confirmation of the hypothesis that the relationship between R-S and personal adjustment may be linear. (23 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Serial learning and conditioning under real-life stress.

54 Ss learned a list of nonsense syllables prior to experiencing a "real-life" anxiety arousing situation. The stress situations were doctoral examinations, giving an oral report, and appearing in a dramatic production. An equivalent list was learned under conditions regarded as emotionally neutral. The palmarsweat index (PSI) was recorded under each condition. In addition, the GSR was conditioned to a light (CS), with an electric shock as US, in each condition. The Taylor scale was given to all Ss. The results indicated that stress interfered with serial learning but facilitated conditioning. The greater the interference, the greater the PSI. Taylor scores were significantly related to none of the performance measures or to the PSI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Curvilinearity between dream content and death anxiety and the relationship of death anxiety to repression-sensitization.

Discusses the merits of a defense mechanism model in the research dealing with death anxiety. The prediction was made that both high and low scorers on the Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) would report more unpleasant and death dream themes than Ss who score in the middle ranges of DAS. The Repression-Sensitization (R-S) Scale was used as a companion predictive instrument to the DAS. Findings are reported for 43 and 36 undergraduates, with 1 yr. intervening between data collections. Curvilinearity between DAS and dream content was found in both Samples 1 and 2. The R-S scale failed to predict comparably to the DAS, and some possible reasons for this difference are discussed. (18 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Electrodermal habituation and subjective response: Effects of manifest anxiety and autonomic arousal.

Studied the effects of cortical function and individual differences on galvanic skin response (GSR) habituation to tones of low and moderate intensity. 40 female undergraduates were divided into high- and low-anxious groups, on the basis of their Taylor Manifest Anxiety scale scores, and into high- and low-arousal groups, on the basis of their resting-level GSR activity. High-anxious Ss perceived nonchanging, nonnoxious moderate and low tones as increasing in intensity over trials while their electrodermal responses to the tones were habituating. Although the low-anxious group and the high- and low-arousal groups also showed electrodermal habituation, there were no significant effects of trials for intensity ratings. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationships among manifest anxiety, response to stress, and the perception of autonomic activity.

Recorded the GSRs of a total of 48 male undergraduates with high or low anxiety levels (as measured by the MA scale), during exposure to a mild ego-involving stress or a nonstress condition. After an initial rest period, Ss in the stress condition were asked to identify their own "emotional responses" while monitored by a "lie detector." Results indicate that high-anxiety Ss showed a significant increase in GSR rate in the stress period when compared with low-anxiety Ss. Nonstress Ss showed no difference as a function of anxiety level. It is concluded that scores on the MA scale reflect "reactive" anxiety, the autonomic components of which are differentially elicited by ego-involving stress situations. (18 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Repression-sensitization and social desirability responding.

3 groups of male and female Ss were given Byrne's R-S scale and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability (SD) scale. The scores on these 2 scales were correlated and significant negative correlations were obtained for all 3 groups. The magnitude and consistency of these correlations appear to reflect sufficient independence between these dimensions to justify considering them as separate variables. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavioral control, aversive stimulus frequency, and pituitary-adrenal response.

Six female Long-Evans rats were trained to leverpress under a free-operant shock postponement schedule, and each S was linked to a control that received shock whenever the S did to test the hypothesis that the pattern of corticosteroid response would be affected by both the frequency of shock received and the availability of behavioral control. The shock postponement interval (R-S) was varied (5, 10, 20, 40, or 80 sec) over blocks of sessions. Corticosteroid levels were taken prior to training and before and after selected sessions. Results show that frequency of shock had no major impact on physiological processes controlling the corticosteroid response; however, when Ss had the opportunity to control aversive events, a change in corticosteroid response was evident relative to controls. The rates of responding and of shock were inversely related to the R-S interval. Corticosteroid levels were unrelated to the R-S parameter. Corticosteroid levels of Ss were significantly higher than basal levels at the beginning of a session; by the end of a session, these levels were significantly reduced, although still above basal levels. These results were reversed for controls. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Heart rate and GSR concomitants of vigilance and arousal.

In an experiment with 16 male undergraduates, Ss receiving high shock were considerably more autonomically aroused than low shock Ss, as indicated both by an index of GSR, and by heart rate uncorrected for base level. When corrected, heart rate did not differentiate between Ss receiving high and low level shock. In a within Ss comparison, however, UCS temporal uncertainty generated lower corrected heart rate than UCS-certainty, and did so independently of shock level. It is unlikely that UCS-uncertainty was less anxiety arousing than UCS-certainty; indeed, GSR data suggest the contrary. The decrease in heart rate during UCS-uncertain trials is presumed to be a function of Ss' increased vigilance for uncertainty removing cues. The cognitive orientation toward environmental intake which such vigilance implies should, according to J. I. Lacey, be accompanied by cardiac deceleration. It is argued that such cognitive aspects of cardiac functioning are superimposed over gross cardiac responsiveness to autonomic arousal. (French summary) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Repression-Sensitization scale as a measure of adjustment: Relationship with the CPI.

The repression-sensitization dimension has been hypothesized to be associated with adjustment in a curvilinear fashion with both sensitizers and repressers showing more evidence of maladjustment than neutrals. The Repression-Sensitization (R-S) scale and the CPI were administered to 91 college undergraduates and intercorrelated. Approximately ? of the CPI scales yielded significant negative correlations with the R-S scale. Rather than the hypothesized curvilinear relationship, repressers appear to be the best adjusted of the 3, sensitizers the most maladjusted, while neutrals fall between the 2 defense groups. The 7 CPI scales which relate most consistently to repression-sensitization are Sociability, Sense of Well-Being, Self-Control, Tolerance, Good Impression, Achievement via Conformance, and Intellectual Efficiency. (15 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)