An exploratory study of the effects of emotionally toned incidental stimuli1

Abstract

Summary The present study examined the effects of emotionally toned (angry or pleasant) incidental stimuli upon fantasy production Subjects told more aggressive TAT stories when highly aggressive passages from a play were audible from the next room (at a volume and fidelity which made it difficult to follow the verbal message) than they did when no such stimulus was playing No increase in aggression was noted in the presence of a pleasantly toned stimulus Individual differences in responsiveness to the incidental stimulus were related to other measures of influence by incidental stimuli, and little individual consistency was evident It was suggested that the concept of a general trait of responsiveness to incidental stimulation may be too global, and that consistencies may be limited to particular response modes, types of stimuli, and orientations to the situation.

Beyond “ESTs”: Problematic assumptions in the pursuit of evidence-based practice.

“…A personal experience that predates the concept of manualized therapy helps to provide some perspective on the current preoccupation with manuals. In a study conducted with Jean Schimek (Wachtel & Schimek, 1970), we were attempting to trace the effects of emotionally toned incidental stimuli on subjects' mood, fantasies and thought processes. While subjects were creating Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) stories and participating in other measures, a tape recording was played in the next room in a way designed to sound like it was the sound of some activity going on next door that was not relevant to the study.…”