The Method of Subliminal Psychodynamic Activation: Do Individual Thresholds Make a Difference?

Abstract

The present experiment investigated the effects of subliminal psychodynamic stimuli on anxiety as measured by heart rate. Following an anxiety-inducing task, male and female subjects were tachistoscopically shown, at their subjective thresholds, one of five subliminal stimuli, MOMMY AND I ARE ONE, DADDY AND I ARE ONE (symbiotic messages). MOMMY HAS LEFT ME (abandonment message), I AM HAPPY AND CALM (positively toned but nonsymbiotic phrase), or MYMMO NAD I REA ENO (control stimulus). It was hypothesized that men would exhibit a greater decrease in heart rate after exposure to the MOMMY stimulus than the control message. No definitive predictions were made for women. The abandonment phrase was expected to increase heart rate. A positively toned message was included to assess whether its effects would be comparable to those hypothesized for the MOMMY message. The results yielded no significant effects for stimulus or gender and so provided no support for the hypotheses.

Implementation of Problem-based Learning – Flipped Classroom Model in Chemistry and Its Effect on Scientific Literacy

“…Next, it is focused on the high level of cognitive during in the class, by applying (C3), analyzing (C4) and evaluating (C5) (Paristiowati et al, 2017). Another research shows that the approach of a problem oriented can impact promise to chemical learning in developing the ability of high-order thinking and students' scientific literacy (Malik, Paraherakis, Joseph, & Ladd, 1996;Marks & Eilks, 2009).…”

Why the Brain Knows More than We Do: Non-Conscious Representations and Their Role in the Construction of Conscious Experience

“…Theory and findings regarding SPA effects have received critical feed-back raising issues relating to the appropriateness of control and threshold stimuli in the various experiments [23,24], the possible need for physiological indicators of anxiety reduction such as the subject's heart rate in addition to the psychological measures [25], and questions about the need for neutral, i.e., neither drive-nor affect-related, stimuli to establish individual subjective thresholds for SPA [26]. However, quantitative and qualitative reviews and meta-analyses of research conducted over the years lead to the conclusion that the major findings remain statistically significant [27].…”

“…Some restricting effect of awareness on psychodynamic responsiveness is widely believed to diminish the efficiency of relaxation techniques that combine soothing music with verbal suggestions, which has lead to the sustained use of subliminal suggestions combined with soft music in relaxation therapy. Experimental studies have shown that the most efficient combinations appear to be indeed those where soft music is presented together with verbal stimuli of intensities below the level of conscious perception [22].Theory and findings regarding SPA effects have received critical feed-back raising issues relating to the appropriateness of control and threshold stimuli in the various experiments [23,24], the possible need for physiological indicators of anxiety reduction such as the subject's heart rate in addition to the psychological measures [25], and questions about the need for neutral, i.e., neither drive-nor affect-related, stimuli to establish individual subjective thresholds for SPA [26]. However, quantitative and qualitative reviews and meta-analyses of research conducted over the years lead to the conclusion that the major findings remain statistically significant [27].…”