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Pain adaptation and emotional deficit
Author(s) -
Watson Charles G.,
Jacobs Lyle
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/1097-4679(197704)33:2<555::aid-jclp2270330248>3.0.co;2-u
Subject(s) - psychology , adaptation (eye) , cognitive psychology , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , neuroscience
The pain adaptation rates of high‐and low‐emotional deficit schizophrenics were compared. Electrical stimulation pain thresholds were calculated and retaken at four intervals after adminstration of shocks in a learning task. Low scorers on the General Sensation‐Seeking and Thrill /Adventure Seeking scales showed significantly less pain adaptation than did their high sensation‐seeking counterparts. No differences in level of adaptation appeared between high and low scorers on the Anhedonia scale or three other sensation‐seeking scales. The results suggested that the neurotic emotional deficit defined by the sensation‐seeking scales may be mediated by inadequate adaptation to painful stimuli.