Psychopathology as a function of neuroticism and a hypnotically implanted aggressive conflict.

Abstract

Hypnotically implanted paramnesias (false stories) designed to arouse an unacceptable aggressive impulse successfully generated psychopathology in experimental subjects who were high in neuroticism. Control subjects received a similar paramnesia that was designed to arouse an acceptable impulse. The induced psychopathology approximated that observed in a psychiatric outpatient population. Experimental subjects who directed their aggressive impulses at fictitious authority figures experienced more psychopathology than did experimental subjects who directed their impulses at an authority figure who was physically present. Experimental subjects told shorter Thematic Apperception Test stories and expressed more blatant anger and aggression in their stories than did the controls, but the two groups did not differ in terms of the amount of anger and aggression projected nor did they differ in the amount of paramnesia material projected.

Client expression of hostility in psychotherapy.

“…Several studies have focused on the relationship between the expression of hostility and psychopathology (e.g., Lemaire & Clapton, 1981;Smyth, 1982). In investigating the relationship between these two variables, it is important to distinguish between hostility expressed outward (toward others) and hostility expressed inward (toward the self).…”

Sense and nonsense in hierarchical regression analysis: Comment on Smyth.

“…In sum, a correct hierarchical regression analysis enabled one to uncover that the within-groups regressions of the dependent variable on the covariate equal zero and that the difference between the means of the experimental and control groups is due solely to the treatment (assuming, of course, that the study is internally valid-an issue not addressed in the present comment). It will now be shown how radically different, and incorrect, the conclusions are when one follows the hierarchical analysis applied by Smyth (1982).…”

“…

With use of illustrative data, analysis of covariance via hierarchical regression analysis is contrasted with hierarchical analyses used by Smyth (1982). It is shown that Smyth's analyses did not address the hypotheses he wished to test and that the results yielded by these analyses are meaningless.Hierarchical multiple regression analysis is popular among social scientists.

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“…Regrettably,, however, one often encounters the use of hierarchical analysis with what appear to be utter disregard of its requirements and lack of understanding of the nature of the answers it provides (for extensive discussions, see Cohen & Cohen, 1975;Pedhazur, 1982). The purpose of this comment is to discuss incorrect applications of hierarchical analyses in an article by Smyth (1982) published in this journal. It should be noted that the comment is addressed exclusively to this aspect of Smyth's article.…”

“…In the second step in Smyth's (1982) hierarchical analysis, "the interactional term was entered next to determine if experimental subjects' neuroticism influenced their reactions to the conflictual paramnesia as was expected" (pp. 558-559).…”