Repression-Sensitization and Nonverbal Expressiveness

Abstract

Investigated the relationship of status on Byrne's repression-sensitization dimension to novel measures of nonverbal' expressiveness under stress and nonstress conditions, where subjects' perceptions of the purpose of the dependent measures were varied. Forty subjects were divided into sensitizer and repressor groups on the basis of Repression-Sensitization (R-S) scores. Subjects viewed either an anxiety-producing industrial accident film or a control film. Subjects were then told that the purpose of subsequent testing was either the assessment of creativity or of personality, as measured by a new projective test. The 2 X 2 X 2 factorial design enabled the investigation of predictions based on ego-defensive interpretations of repression-sensitization and Lefcourt's "attitude towards emotionality" view. Although the study failed to provide strong support for either interpretation in full, the data were viewed as reconcilable with Lefcourt's theory where repressors, but not sensitizers, are-concerned.