The major thesis of this study, representing the outcome of several investigations of the perceptual and personal characteristics of intense "liberalism" and "conservatism," is that certain important similarities between the two have not been adequately investigated. In this respect, the present research deviates from the usual approach, which focuses upon apparent differences.In a sense, however, this study has continuity with previous investigations. Historically, the direction of theory and research has been to demonstrate the generality and inclusiveness of social attitudes. Early studies, for example, viewed prejudice more or less as a specific and independent attitude. More recently, the tendency has been to regard it as related to the entire personality, as part of a highly generalized system, manifesting itself even in situations where social issues are not present. The evaluation of social attitudes as conceived in the present study expands the problem by viewing extreme attitudes as alternative phenotypic manifestations of the same or similar genotype.1 This study received the award by the American Association for the Advancement of Sci ence in 1957 for meritorious sociopsychological research, and is based upon a doctoral dissertation al New York University, 1954.The author wishes to express his gratitude to Marie jahoda for her valuable guidance and assistance, and to Richard Christie, Richard I. Evans, and G. 13. Vcttcr for their many helpful suggestions. Appreciation is also extended to L. T. Callicutt, Chairman of the Department, of Psychology of the University of Houston, and members of the Department for their cooperation and assistance with regard to subjects and the administration of tests.
or about three-fourths of those attending, were provided with such an experience. Several strobe and colored lights (synchronized to music) reflecting off walls and ceilings of mirrored mylar were ased for visual stimulation; an original composition of string and percussion music stereophonically presented through headphones for auditory stimulation; comfortable reclining chairs which vibrate and heat for somesthetic and thermal stimulation; specialcandy with carbonated centers for gustatory stimulation; and perfumers' oils permeating the air for olfactory stimulation -all occurring simultaneously in a darkened room for a period of fifteen minutes. Of the participants, 207 or 45 per cent were given before-and-after assignments to draw a bowl of brightly colored fruit. Since no control group was used, this situation should not be considered as an experiment but as an event designed to demonstrate the immediate effects of the stimulation. In several experiments with control groups, however, results comparable to those reported here were obtained.The participants who were given the before-and-after drawing assignment were mostly beginners in the basic creative problem-solving program. Small groups of approximately nine were exposed to simultaneous sensory stimulation in twentytwo scheduled sessions. Advanced program participants were similarly exposed to simultaneous sensory stimulation at times 208 Volume 8 Number 3 Third QUlrter
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