The Repression-Sensitization Dimension and Emotional Response to Stimuli

Abstract

The results of two experiments concerned with differential reaction patterns of repressors and sensitizers to threatening stimuli are reported. Contrary to expectation differences in duration of looking at unpleasant pictures between repressors and sensitizers did not attain statistical significance. Nor were there any systematic differences in autonomic, or other covert, response patterns found. Female Ss turned the unpleasant pictures off more quickly, gave larger GSRs during the word-association test and female repressors gave larger GSRs to the threatening words and had a higher incidence of “labile” GSR records. It is suggested that sex may be important in studying the effects of aversive stimuli.