The misattribution of smoking cessation symptoms.

Asked 15 female nurses who reported smoking at least 10 cigarettes per day to refrain from smoking for 1 day as part of a "study of heart rate." Experimental Ss were given a placebo and told that this pill would cause increased irritability, nervousness, and appetite. Controls received no information about side effects. It was predicted that experimental Ss would attribute their discomfort to the action of the pill and report less cessation difficulty than controls, who would attribute their discomfort to cigarette deprivation. This effect would be expected to appear only after several hours of deprivation when symptoms would be intense. Self-reports revealed a significant Condition * Time interaction, confirming the prediction. (French summary) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-directed attention, awareness of bodily states, and suggestibility.

Two studies tested the hypothesis that self-directed attention would cause increased awareness of internal states and would thus reduce suggestibility effects. Exp I applied this reasoning to the experience of an emotion. 55 male undergraduates viewed moderately arousing slides of female nudes after being led to expect the slides to be either highly arousing or nonarousing. As predicted, ratings of the slides corresponded less with these experimentally manipulated anticipations when self-focus was heightened by the presence of a mirror than when it was not. Exp II examined a different internal experience: the perception of taste. Ss were 41 male and 31 female undergraduates. Some Ss were led to expect a strong flavor as part of a test series, and other Ss were led to expect a weak flavor. Ss high in private self-consciousness (assessed by the A. Fenigstein et al 1975 scale) were less affected by this expectancy manipulation and more accurate in reporting their actual internal state than Ss low in private self-consciousness. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of public and private self-consciousness on the public expression of personal beliefs.

Examined the joint effects of private and public self-consciousness (SC) on attitudinal consistency. 113 male undergraduates (categorized as high and low private and high and low public SC) reported their own attitudes toward punishment. Later, each S was asked to write an essay in which he restated his attitude. Immediately prior to writing the essay, S learned that he would also be discussing his opinion with either a partner who held an attitude opposite to his own or a partner whose attitude was unknown. As predicted, the attitudes expressed in the essays of high public SC Ss were more moderate than those expressed by low public SC Ss. One effect of this moderation strategy was to lower the correlation between privately held and publicly expressed beliefs among Ss high in public SC. In contrast, attitudinal consistency was substantial among Ss who were low in public and high in private SC. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Positive and reverse placebo effects as a function of differences in cues used in self-perception.

76 undergraduates were administered a fear survey and were designated self-produced cue responders (their reports of emotional state were affected by manipulation of their facial expressions), and 37 were designated situational cue responders (they were unaffected by expression manipulations). As predicted, the situational cue group was less afraid of snakes and electric shocks when given a placebo described as a relaxer and more afraid when given an arouser placebo. Ss more responsive to self-produced cues showed the reverse placebo effect and were more afraid when given a relaxer placebo and less afraid when given an arouser. (43 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personality characteristics associated with psychedelic flashbacks in natural and experimental settings.

Compared MMPI profiles of 30 male psychedelic drug users with and without previous flashback experiences. MMPI differences enabled correct classification of the majority of both types of Ss. Controlling for differences which might be attributable to the flashbacks themselves, profiles associated with previous flashbacks still reflected more "loose," less reality-oriented thinking. Under experimental conditions involving mild sensory deprivation and the administration of either placebo or 50 mg ephedrine sulfate, Ss with MMPI evidence of loose thinking experienced significantly more psychedelic-like sensations, even when given instructions that tended to inhibit altered states of consciousness. Results are interpreted as suggesting that flashbacks are exacerbations of more stable psychopathology which occur in situations that tend to induce altered states of consciousness even without previous drug use. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Consciousness of body: Private and public.

A body consciousness questionnaire administered to 188 undergraduates yielded 2 separate factors: Private (awareness of internal sensations) and Public Body Consciousness (awareness of observable aspects of body). For each factor, norms, test–retest reliability data, and correlations with other personality measures (Self-Consciousness Inventory, Hypochondriasis scale of the MMPI, and the Emotionality scale of the EASI [Emotionality, Activity, Sociability, Impulsivity] Temperament Survey) are presented. An experiment on reaction to ingestion of caffeine revealed that only Ss high in private body consciousness or high in both private body consciousness and private self-consciousness were stimulated by caffeine; individual differences in public body consciousness and in private self-consciousness alone had no impact. Findings have implications for biofeedback, false physiological feedback, and excitation transfer. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dissonance, awareness, and motivation.

The problems were whether dissonance can be aroused between 2 cognitions without awareness of 1 of them and whether change in consummatory strength of a motive can be an avenue of dissonance reduction. 40 high school Ss were hypnotized to a depth adequate for assuring amnesia for suggestions. ? ate sauce that was very thirst arousing (HT), and ?, sauce that aroused little thirst (LT). Placed under hypnosis again, the 20 experimental Ss were told that, on awaking, they would feel water bloated, while the control Ss were told they would feel fatigued. Ss were awakened and offered water. HT experimental Ss drank less water than LT experimental Ss, the reverse of the control group effect (interaction p     

Self-consciousness, self-esteem, and success–failure as determinants of alcohol consumption in male social drinkers.

Tested the proposition that alcohol is consumed as a function of the quality of past performances and of the individual's level of private self-consciousness. 120 adult male Ss were randomly given success or failure feedback on an intellectual task. They then participated in a separate "wine-tasting" experiment in which they were allowed to regulate alcohol consumption. As predicted, high self-conscious Ss who had received failure feedback drank significantly more than did high self-conscious Ss who received success feedback. Consumption by low self-conscious Ss fell between these extremes and did not vary as a function of success and failure. Ss' scores on the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List indicated that these results were mediated by differential sensitivity to the positive or negative implications of success/failure by high and low self-conscious Ss. (38 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Arousal as a necessary condition for attitude change following induced compliance.

In a 2?×?3 design, 63 university students were induced to write counterattitudinal essays under either high- or low-choice conditions. All Ss were led to believe that a pill, which they had just taken in the context of a separate experiment, was a placebo. In reality, Ss were given a pill that contained either 30 mg of phenobarbital (tranquilizer condition), 5 mg of amphetamine (amphetamine condition), or milk powder (placebo condition). In this last condition, the results yielded the usual dissonance effect: High choice produced more attitude change in the direction of the essay than low choice. When Ss were given a tranquilizer, this effect was virtually eliminated; when Ss were given amphetamine, attitude change increased under high choice and was exhibited for the 1st time under low choice. These results are consistent with the notion that attitude change is in the service of reducing arousal and with the idea that arousal from other sources can be misattributed to attitude-discrepant behavior. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Body image, physical attractiveness, and depression.

224 17–63 yr olds completed measures of self-perceived physical attractiveness and depression, and static full-body videotapes of Ss were assessed by objective raters, to investigate the relationship between Ss' body image, rated physical attractiveness, and depression. Measures included the Body-Self Relations Questionnaire, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), a body parts satisfaction scale, and a self-labeling depression scale. Ss were classified as depressed (n?=?35) or nondepressed (n?=?42) on the basis of conjunctive criteria of self-labeling and extreme groups on the CES-D. It was hypothesized that (1) depressed Ss would report being less satisfied with their body parts and physical appearance and would regard themselves as less physically attractive than would nondepressed Ss, (2) objective raters would perceive depressed Ss as less physically attractive than nondepressed Ss, and (3) depressed Ss would distort their degree of physical attractiveness and perceive themselves to be less attractive than objective raters regarded them. Results indicate that, as hypothesized, depressed Ss were less satisfied with their bodies and saw themselves as less physically attractive than nondepressed Ss. These groups did not differ with respect to observer-rated physical attractiveness. Support was obtained for A. T. Beck's (1973, 1976) cognitive hypothesis that depressed persons negatively distort their body images; however, results also indicate substantial positive distortion among nondepressed Ss. (40 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of motive for helping, recipient's inability to reciprocate, and sex on devaluation of the recipient's competence.

Tested the prediction that motive base will interact with reciprocation such that greater superiority in perceived competence will occur following nonreciprocation than following reciprocation of efficacy-motivated helpers. It was hypothesized that this effect would be qualified by the helper's motivation for helping, the evaluative attribute in question, and the helper's set. 60 male and 60 female undergraduates were asked to imagine that during the preceding weekend they had successfully rescued a boatload of children. For half of the Ss, the scenario emphasized efficacy-motivating helping; for the other half, it emphasized empathy-motivated helping. Ss were then put to work on the "easier" of 2 "randomly assigned" word-forming tasks, whereas their same-sex partner (a confederate) worked on the "harder" task. Once Ss reached their quota they were invited to send their excess letters to the still-struggling co-worker; all did. In return, the confederate attempted successfully or unsuccessfully to share his or her earnings. As predicted, the efficacy-motivated helpers, unlike their empathy-motivated counterparts, rated themselves as more competent than, but not more sociable than, the recipient who was unable to reciprocate. Weak support was found for the prediction that these differences in perceived competence would largely apply to male helpers. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-regulated exposure to erotica, recall errors, and subjective reactions as a function of erotophobia and Type A coronary-prone behavior.

Tested the hypotheses that "erotophiles" would spend more time viewing erotica and remember the content of the material more accurately than "erotophobes," and the Type A (coronary prone) Ss would spend less time viewing erotica than Type B (non coronary prone) Ss. 36 male and 34 female undergraduates completed a sexual opinion survey and the Jenkins Activity Survey—Form T. Ss then individually viewed 21 explicit heterosexual slides, with duration of exposure time controlled by each S. As hypothesized, erotophiles had longer exposure times than erotophobes and, as a consequence, made fewer errors in recalling content. Coronary-prone behavior interacted with erotophobia in a consistent though unanticipated way. Among Type As, exposure time and errors were unrelated to erotophobia, but the predicted effects occurred for Type Bs. It appeared that the time-relevant orientation of Type As outweighed the ordinary effects of emotion-based reaction to erotic stimuli. Significant effects on self-reported feelings were also found, as were several sex differences. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social facilitation of marijuana intoxication: Impact of social set and pharmacological activity.

Conducted 2 experiments with a total of 120 males (mean age = 23 yr.) to determine to what extent marihuana intoxication is the result of drug effects, expectancy, social setting, or an interaction of these factors. In Exp. I, Ss 1st swallowed a placebo pill and then smoked either 2 placebo cigarettes or two marihuana cigarettes containing a total of l5 mg. D9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The cigarettes were smoked in a setting designed to either facilitate intoxication ("up night") or interfere with it ("down night") through manipulation of S's expectancy and through modeling. Results indicate that the amount of marihuana smoked impaired cognitive functioning and was rated as more intoxicating than the placebo. Manipulations of setting and belief had no effect. In Exp. II, Ss smoked 2 cigarettes containing either placebo, 7.5 mg. THC, or l5 mg. THC. Ss who smoked placebo cigarettes 1st swallowed a pill containing either 10 or 25 mg. librium (chlordiazepoxide). Ss who smoked cigarettes containing THC received placebo pills. Smoking was done in either "up night" or "down night" contexts. Results suggest that social setting and belief interact with smaller doses of marihuana but not with large doses nor with placebo. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Liking for the group and the perceived merit of the group's behavior.

Paris of Ss were told, individually, that their partners were congenial and they would probably like them (high like), or the converse (low like). Ss were then separated and given an artillery gunnery problem in which they were to judge the accuracy of their "observer's" range estimates. Both Ss in each pair thought the other 3 was the "observer," which was actually a taped recording piped to each S. High like Ss judged their "observer's" estimates as more accurate than low like Ss. Ss who had been led to believe that they had "observers" of high proficiency in range estimates tended to judge the estimate as more accurate than when they had low proficiency "observers." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Body dissatisfaction, self-focus, and dieting status among women.

Examined body shape preferences, body dissatisfaction, and self-focus between dieters and nondieters. Ss were 70 women. 35 were classified as chronic dieters, and 35 were classified as nondieters. Dieters were found to be more dissatisfied with their bodies than were nondieters. Although dieters did not have more stringent standards for body shape than nondieters, there was a larger discrepancy between ideal and current shape for dieters owing to their greater body weights. Dieters were also found to be highly and negatively self-focused on the Exner Sentence Completion Task. Dieting status was correlated with public rather than private self-consciousness, suggesting that dieters were concerned with their public image. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effectiveness of unanticipated persuasive communications.

This study investigated the effect of cognitive dissonance on opinion changing. 2 groups of Ss were presented with an opinion rather forcefully oriented ("persuasive communication"). One group was given an orientation that would not lead Ss to anticipate the "persuasive communication"; the other group was given an orientation that might lead them to reject the opinion expressed in the "communication" but in so doing, would also reject their own opinions. Ss were high school students; the topic dealt with young drivers. One group was told the speaker's point of view (the "tough" policy with young drivers) before hand; the other group was directed to evaluate the speaker's personality. Ss who were forewarned about the topic changed their opinions less than the "naive" Ss. From Psyc Abstracts 36:01:3GD35A. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effect of experimentally induced failure, self-esteem, and sex on cognitive differentiation.

Investigated the effect of experimentally-induced failure upon an immediately-following cognitive differentiation task, on the hypothesis that these effects are differentially mediated by self-esteem and sex variables. 32 male and 32 female undergraduates completed the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and the Embedded Figures Test (EFT). Ss were then given Raven's Progressive Matrices under time-limit failure or control conditions, and were retested on the EFT. Results support the hypothesis that after the experience of failure, high-esteem Ss would work faster and low-esteem Ss would work slower on the EFT retest. An additional hypothesis that males would work faster than females on the EFT was supported only for the low self-esteem females. Implications of these findings are explored. (25 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)