Effects of Time Pressure on the Management of Aggression in TAT Stories

Summary

The effects of three conditions of time pressure (strong, moderate, none) upon a modified form of the TAT were investigated. The cards were selected for their hostility arousing value, and an approach-avoidance conflict was postulated. Stories were scored according to the degree of emotional maturity implied by the type of solution adopted by female students to resolve the conflict over aggression. A direct relation between experimentally imposed time pressure and immaturity of conflict resolutions was predicted. This was confirmed. Self-imposed time pressure produced the same results. The type of resolution utilized more often under time pressure showed undercontrol of aggression while freedom from pressure favored Ego controlled expression.