PREDICTING PERCEPTUAL DEFENSE

Perceptual defense as a phenomenon was proposed by McGinnies in 1949. His findings were, in main, replicated by York, et al. in 1984 and ext ended by Perroncel, et al. in 1990. The present purpose was to assess whether four independent variables, one related to emotional arousal ( GSR) and three, related to connotative word meaning (Evaluative, Poten cy, and Activity scores from Semantic Differential words used in the P erroncel, et al. study), could predict the perceptual defense phenomen on. The multiple correlation coefficient (R) was .19; however, the per cent variance accounted for by the four independent variables was 3%. Clearly, further research is necessary to specify what factors predict the perceptual defense effect.