Premium
The Effect of Noxious Subliminal Stimuli on the Modification of Attitudes toward Alcoholism: A Pilot Study *
Author(s) -
Hart Larry
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
british journal of addiction to alcohol and other drugs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0007-0890
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1973.tb01228.x
Subject(s) - subliminal stimuli , stimulus (psychology) , psychology , perception , affect (linguistics) , noxious stimulus , cognition , cognitive psychology , neuroscience , communication , medicine , receptor , nociception
Summary In recent years there has been an increasing body of evidence attempting to validate the hypothesis that subliminal stimuli may affect behavior. Supposedly, a faint perceptual stimulus may affect behavior even when this stimulus is below threshold, Gudmund and his associates (1959) studied the effects of subliminal verbal stimuli and reported that the difference between meanings registered below a recognition threshold can affect conscious thoughts. In an investigation of the effects of subliminal stimuli of aggressive content upon conscious cognition, Eagle (1959) notes that stimuli that are not conscious and that are non‐aggressive affected subjects' impressions of a consciously perceived stimulus. These findings support the contention that stimuli which are not consciously perceived or directly experienced can influence cognition. This study was undertaken in an attempt to investigate the effect of noxious subliminal stimuli on the modification of attitudes toward alcoholism. It is hypothesized that the programmed exposure of noxious subliminal stimuli will modify attitudes toward alcoholism. It is hoped that findings from this pilot study will shed some light on the nature of the effect of subliminal stimulation on the modification of attitudes toward alcoholism.