Relation between semantic satiation and verbal conditioning.

Abstract

The relation between extent of semantic satiation and trials to learn two verbal conditioning tasks was investigated in a sample of thirty‐eight college students. Semantic satiation was measured by polarity‐difference scores between rating the words before and after a standard satiation treatment. Trials to reach criterion of learning were combined for the two verbal conditioning tests. The correlation between the satiation and verbal conditioning scores was r = −0·484; the mean satiation scores of the subjects, dichotomized at the median as fast and slow learners, were also significantly different. These results are consistent with the prediction that facility in verbal conditioning, like susceptibility to hypnosis, depends on resistance to semantic satiation. A subsidiary finding was a significant correlation, r = 0·42, between the two verbal conditioning test scores.