Semantic generalization and the mechanism of subception

Abstract

The general purpose of this study was to examine the power of the subception mechanism as a discriminatory agent in a complex perceptual situation. The specific aims were : I . To replicate the results obtained by McCleary and Lazarus (1949-50) regarding the subception effect, using meaningful material rather than nonsense syllables; 2. To provide evidence of semantic generalization under normal perceptual conditions;3. To provide evidence that semantic generalization may occur under conditions of subliminal stimulation. Method SubjectsSixteen subjects were used, twelve male and four female, Eight were university students and cight were adults with no university training. T h e experiment was administered individually. The average time for the experimental session was go minutes. Apparatus and ProcedureSs were seated six feet from a white screen. Stimuli were projected on this screen from a standard 2 in. x z in. projector positioned 2 ft. behind the subject. The projector was fitted with a tachistoscopic shutter and fed through a variac transformer to permit variations in the illumination of the image. The ambient illumination of the room was O'IZ log. ft. lamberts. S's palmar GSR was measured by an AC apparatus built in theDepartment of Psychology in the University of Queensland, incorporating a circuit simiiar to that described by Nichols and Daroge Electric shock was used as the UCS, and was administered by means of electrodes placed on the subject's right forearm and connected to a shocking device incorporated in the GSR apparatus.The experiment was divided into three phases. These were: I. A threshold testing period; 2. A conditioning period; 3. A test period. The procedure adopted during each section is outlined below. no6( 195.5). The Mechanism of Subception 207 Threshold Testing PeriodThe following instructions were given to S:"This is an experiment in perception. It is divided into three parts. The first art merely requires you to look at the screen when I say 'Ready.' s o u are to try to tell me what the word projected on the screen is. If you don't see anything then tell me but if you can see something but aren't sure what it IS, then have a guess. I'll tell you what you have to do in the second part of the experiment after we finish the first section. 'Ready?'."