Primary Waking Suggestibility and Classical Conditioning of Word Meaning

Abstract

Primary waking suggestibility has been related to both instrumental and classical conditioning. The nature of language mediational processes in suggestibility is most closely connected with classical conditioning mechanisms. However, methodological and empirical difficulties render ambiguous the previous research on classical conditioning interpretations. The present study extended the procedures for language (higher-order classical) conditioning of evaluative word meaning to investigate the nature and function of suggestibility. The results were that the classical conditioning of word meaning was not predicted by suggestibility. These and other data indicate that suggestibility is not mediated by classically conditioned verbal processes but may be based on instrumental conditioning functions.