Abstract
An apparent movement situation was presented to control and neurotic groups. Perception of the phi phenomenon was postulated to be associated with neurotic mechanisms and with behaviour operationally defined as conflict and ambiguity avoidance, and was considered to express a generalized perceptual attitude of the individual. Neurotics were found to have lower mean movement intervals than control subjects, and to find it more difficult to perceive the phi phenomenon. The latter tendency was particularly marked in obsessionals and hysterics. Perception of phi was found to be associated with age of subject, becoming more difficult with greater age. Imperception of phi among the neurotic sample remained greater than in the control group after partialling out age. The findings are interpreted as supporting two hypotheses derived from a set of postulates linking a perceptual attitude of ambiguity avoidance with ego defences.
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Schedule a callMore From: British journal of psychology (London, England : 1953)
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