A Microgenetic Approach to the Integration of Contrasexual Characteristics

Abstract

Assessed relationships between introversion-extraversion and the integration of contrasexuality. Pictorial stimuli containing contrasexual or congruent sexual content were presented tachistoscopically at increasing durations, with recognition time scores and the rated emotional distance levels of percept descriptions selected as indices of integration. The following hypotheses were advanced: (1) Subjects shown contrasexual pictures would require more presentations to form a stimulus-bound percept than would subjects shown congruent pictures; (2) Extraverts would require more presentations of the contrasexual pictures to form a stimulus-bound percept than would introverts; (3) Extraverts would manifest more emotional distance when describing a stimulus-bound contrasexual percept than would introverts. Hypotheses I and 3 received clear support, while Hypothesis 2 received indirect confirmation at early stages of percept development (prior to correct recognition). Results were discussed in relation to (l) Jung's theory of introversion-extraversion, focusing on content factors of the stimuli, and (2) Berlyne's arousal model, focusing on collative properties of the stimuli. Comparisons were drawn between the present microgenetic approach and a similar perceptual method, and between the present theoretical formulation and the concept of psychological androgyny.