Perceptual Sensitization, Response Suppression, and Psychopathology

A sentence‐building test is described which elicits (i) ‘acting out hostility’ versus ‘neutral’ responses; (ii) ‘projected hostility’ versus ‘neutral’; (iii) ‘guilt’ versus ‘neutral’; (iv) ‘neutral’ versus ‘neutral’ responses. The test is composed of sets of sixteen items each, covering each of these four areas. Under two conditions of administration, one of which facilitates response suppression, normals were found to suppress the emotionally toned material in all areas. The psychotics suppressed emotionally toned material, when the conditions of administration provided opportunity, in an area not related to their psychopathology (the ‘acting out hostility’ area). The implications for psychological testing situations are discussed

Developmental psychology · Hostility · Perception · Psychopathology · Psychotherapist · Sensitization · Test (biology) · Clinical Psychology · Educational and Psychological Assessments · Neuroscience · Psychological Testing and Assessment · Psychology · Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications