Rate of Formation of Associations by Schizophrenic and Normal Subjects as a Function of Stimulus or Response Placement of Aversive Components

Abstract

This study investigated the formation by schizophrenic and non-psychotic Ss of associations involving neutral and aversive stimulus components in two paired-associate paradigms. Both groups of Ss tended to form associations involving aversive stimuli faster than those involving neutral stimuli in both paradigms. These results were in marked contrast to those of a previous study in which the identical aversive words served as responses. The discrepancies in findings of the two studies were discussed in terms of certain characteristics of aversive words and differential reactions to them.

The Relationship Between Punishment History and Skin Conductance Elicited During Swearing

“…Interestingly, it was also found that swear words elicit stronger physiological responses than emotional words. There is evidence that emotional words elicit stronger physiological responses than control words (Hill & Kemp-Wheeler, 1989;Wischner & Gladis, 1969). This is understandable, as emotional words tend to be spoken and heard in situations in which some sort of negative consequence is particularly probable, as mentioned above.…”

“…For example, emotional reactions can be caused by words associated with negative events (e.g. illness, death, misfortune; see Hill & Kemp-Wheeler, 1989;Wischner & Gladis, 1969). It is not likely that such words have acquired their arousal effect because of direct punishment for their usage, but rather because they tend to be used in situations with an increased probability of aversive events.…”

Taboo words and reprimands elicit greater autonomic reactivity in a first language than in a second language

“…Compared to neutral words, aversive words are easier to identify as words in a lexical decision task (Hill & Kemp-Wheeler, 1989). Both clinical and nonclinical subjects were better able to form associations to aversive words than to neutral words (Wischner & Gladis, 1969).…”

“…Aversive words (such as cancer, death, stabbed) resemble taboo words in that they produce orienting and attentional effects (Hill & Kemp-Wheeler, 1989;Wischner & Gladis, 1969), although the magnitude is typically less than that of taboo words or words of strong personal significance (Crane, Dieker, & Brown, 1970). Compared to neutral words, aversive words are easier to identify as words in a lexical decision task (Hill & Kemp-Wheeler, 1989).…”