Blacky the Cat, I: Semantic Differential Ratings

Summary

Two criteria for an alternate form of the Blacky Test, designed to facilitate female identification with Blacky are suggested: 1) the main character must be perceived by females as more feminine than the original stimulus, and 2) the main character must not be viewed differently by male and female Ss in other respects. Semantic Differential ratings of both the original Blacky stimuli and a revised “sexually neutral” cat form (N = 320) indicated that an alternate version could meet both these requirements. Differences between the responses of female Ss to both forms were further shown to be a) generally specific to female Ss, b) specific to the character of Blacky (rather than Mama) and c) often enhanced when Ss made judgments after having seen all twelve cartoons of the test, rather than only the first two.