Observer presence and paired-associate learning of neutral and sexual words
Audelle Cormode · Mspace (University of Manitoba) · 1970
lNeuroticstt are described by Dollard and Miller (1950) as 'rneurotically stupid.rrFor some reason, they do not learn new behaviors for dealing with anxiety situations but stick with their neurotic s5rmptoms which, in most cases, are a distinct hindrance to them in their daily living.Neurotic behavior serves to avoid conflict cues iil an anxious situation and thus, to a certain extent, avoids anxiety.Unfortunately, the perseveration of this behavior prevents the relearning of new, more adaptive behavior from taking place in conflict situations.The person with neurotic s5,'rnptoms restricts exploration, which in the past has been painful for him, and thus new learning does not have a chance to evolve.The question can then be asked, '\Mhy do people with neurotic symptoms persis in their neurotic behavior at the e4lense of learning new, more adaptive responses ?11 or 'Why do peopie with neurotic s.ymptoms show a deficiency in lea::ning in conflict or stressful situations ?'tThere ate at least two possible answers to this question.Some evidence is availal:le which slggests that increased drive (anxiety) is associated with a reduction in the range of cue utilization (Bruning, Capage, Kozuh, Young and Young, 1968; Easterbrook, 1959; Eysenck and Willett, 1962; Kausler and Trapp, 1960).This recluction involves basically a focusing of attention or a narrowing of the per ceptual field.Zaff.y and tsruning (1966) founcl that high anxious sr.ibjects teniled to ignore addi'uional eues and responded in the same manner INTR,ODUCTION