Effect of cognitive appraisal on d' and response bias to experimental stress.

Abstract

The effects of an intellectualization-denial passage designed to modify cognitive appraisal of stressor stimuli (gory scences) were evaluated in terms of sensory-decision theory analysis. The passage was found to reduce "felt stress" ') for certain pairs of the stimuli addressed by the passage content but to less effective in reducing stress (Lx) was reduced rather than increased wi;h presentation of the passage for the included simuli only. Differences in d' between subjects classified within treatment groups as repressors versus sensitizers were obtained for certain stimulus pairs generally in the direction of lower sensitivity for repressors. Results are discussed in terms of the effects of altered cognitive appraisal on the "prevention of stress" and on "defensive"denial.

A signal-detection approach to individual differences in negative feeling

“…Here we focus on a prominent aspect in emotion, the subjective conscious experiences of the emotion, or feelings. Building on prior work (e.g., Barrett et al., 2007; Barbosa et al., 2016; Neufeld, 1975; Nielsen and Kaszniak, 2006), we (Karmon-Presser et al., 2018) have recently conceptualized feeling generation in terms of Signal-Detection Theory (SDT, Macmillan and Creelman, 2004). Accordingly, we consider feeling generation to closely resemble sensation processes.…”

“…Very few of the SDT applications in emotion research are made on reports of subjective experience (Barbosa et al., 2016; Neufeld, 1975; Nielsen and Kaszniak, 2006; for the three exceptions). To our knowledge, the only SDT study providing basis of specific prediction in the current study is Barbosa et al.…”

A review of some unusual applications of signal detection theory

“…The clear distinction between discrimination and bias yielded by SDT provides a quantitative and separate measure of each of these determinants. Neufeld (1975) obtained category scale ratings of stressfulness produced by shocking photographs, and obtained d' therefrom. Chapman and Feather (197 1) had subjects with stage-fright rate the anxiety they experienced while contemplating five speech situations of varying fearfulness and one neutral situation, .and calculated d' from comparing the ratings of the neutral scene with each fear scene.…”

“…A subsequent paper (Rorer et al, 1966b) shows how this may be extended to cases where the two kinds of error are not equally costly. Stenson et al;(1975) conducted studies on the ability of judges to use MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) profiles to distinguish between people judged (on other criteria) to be mentally either normal or abnormal. The probabilities of being judged abnormal given that a subject was abnormal and given that he or she was normal were positively correlated, forming the familiar ROC curve.…”

Reduction of rating scale data by means of signal detection theory

“…The formal analogy between the SDT rating experiment (Green & Swets, 1966) and the ratings that are commonly used in psychology (e.g., self-ratings) allow reduction of the data from such ratings on the basis of SDT. This procedure has been used by several researchers in order to control response bias which is often a critical problem with rating scale data (Chapman & Feather, 1971;Clark, Kurlander, Bieber, & Glassman, 1976;Dorfman & Saslow, 1972;Grossberg & Grant, 1978;Neufeld, 1975; Chapman & Gentry, Note 1).…”