Leonard Zusne

Measures of symmetry

Three discrimination, rating, and ranking experiments were conducted to test the utility of two new single-form measures of symmetry in predicting response to plane figures. The predictive power of the new measures varied with the type of the perceptual task, prediction being better for tasks of a more clearly perceptual nature. The rest of variance in response was due to poorly defined conceptions of symmetry in many Ss, the confusion of symmetry with compactness, and the overestimation of symmetry in figures that approximate in appearance their ideally symmetric prototypes. These and previously conducted experiments lead to the conclusion that in many instances the symmetry parameter of random polygons has no significant influence on response variance and that, for figures of a given level of complexity, the only practically significant predictor of response is a measure of dispersion of shape contours.

Cognitions in Consonance

A reconceptualization of some of the ideas associated with the aesthetic experience is proposed. The problems that arise in defining the terms ‘beautiful’ and ‘perfect’ may be overcome by substituting the term ‘fittingness.’ The core of the aesthetic experience is the experience of some degree of fit between the specimen (the aesthetic object or event) and the corresponding standard. The degree of fit determines the intensity of the experience. The essential element of the aesthetic experience is the process of collation between specimen and standard, but the nature of the experience must be sought in the realm of motivation. To every instance of an extrinsive motive that begins with a deficiency, stimulation, or conflict and ends in homeostasis, there corresponds an intrinsic motive that is self-reinforcing. Cognitive conflicts lead to cognitive dissonance, and cognitive equilibrium is achieved by various cognitive means. There is also a state of cognitive consonance, which is sought for its own sake. The aesthetic experience is the experience of cognitive reinforcement that occurs upon the realization that the aesthetic specimen approximates or fits the model of perfection currently held by the individual. This reinforcing experience of cognitive consonance is the core of the aesthetic experience. This view is compared with Berlynes theory.

Some Factors Affecting the Birthday-Deathday Phenomenon

Samples of individuals differing in sex, age, profession, eminence and fame, and historical period (total N = 3306) were examined for the presence of the birthday-deathday phenomenon. A decrease in the probability of death with approaching birthday followed by an increase was found in most males. The dip-rise centered on the birthday, spanning on the average thirty-six days before and thirty-six days after the birthday. Females, by contrast, showed an initial rise in the probability of death with approaching birthday, followed by a drop. The phenomenon extended from an approximate average of sixty-five days before to sixty-five days after the birthday. In the general population these two trends may combine to yield a pattern indistinguishable from chance. In addition to gender, age also appears to be a factor in that both the male and the female birthday-deathday phenomena tend to be more pronounced in the elderly. The importance of using time units that are appropriate to the temporal grain of the phenomena is stressed.

Contributions to the History of Psychology: XXI. History of Rating of Eminence in Psychology Revisited:

The rating of eminence of 1040 individuals in the history of psychology was replicated. The elimination of certain biases and the change in the composition of the panel led to a different distribution of ratings that was more in accord with the theoretically expected shape. Methodological inadequacies of the original study are pointed out and corrective measures suggested.

CURVED CONTOURS AND THE ASSOCIATIVE RESPONSE

72 random polygons and their curvilinear transformations were exposed for 3 sec. to 40 subjects who produced written associations during a 10-sec. interval. The number of associations varied, in general, directly with the amount of curved contour as well as with the degree of contour dispersion. The amount of variance accounted for by these two variables was small, however. Differences in curvature produced much greater differences in the content of the associations, greater degrees of curvature evoking more associations that were curved, man-made objects or living things and fewer associations that were straight-edged, man-made objects. A significant and inverse relationship was also established between contour dispersion and associations that were nonliving, natural objects. It is concluded that physical form dimensions, especially curvature, affect less the association value (connotative meaning) of visual forms and much more their denotative meaning.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY: LV. PURKINJE PHENOMENON: ORIGINAL ACCOUNT AND LATER DEFINITIONS

Although Purkinje observed the eponymous phenomenon at dawn, it is identical to what happens in the dark-adapting eye. It is shown that most modern definitions of the phenomenon couch it in terms of dark adaptation and that the authors definition of it in similar terms is justified in spite of Brožeks objection.

PERCEPTION OF CURVES

In 4 experiments, in which 66 subjects participated, the perception of 6 types of curved contours in two-dimensional shapes was studied. Random polygons and their curvilinear transformations were presented for detection under low-luminance contrast conditions, oddity-type discrimination problem solving, tachistoscopic identification, and identification involving visual acuity in distance vision. In all experiments curvature affected perception at statistically significant levels, but the extent of this effect was a function of (1) the locus and direction of curvature, (2) the level of compactness-jaggedness of the figure, and (3) the nature of the perceptual task. Shapes with acute corners were more easily perceived than shapes with curved corners. Within these two classes of shapes, those with convex sides were perceived as having greater curvedness than those with concave contours. However, the degree to which curvature affected response was determined primarily by the nature of the perceptual task.

Stimulus correlates of visual pattern discrimination and the problem of grain

A recent paper by V. J. Polidora (1966) is criticized on the basis that the experimental design did not provide an adequate test of the usefulness of 15 visual form parameters, mainly because of differences in the grain of the matrices used to construct and measure stimuli.

Metaphysical Parallels of the Study of Values

Spranger’s six value regions, which underlie the Allport-Vernon-Lindzey Study of Values, are shown to have ancient Oriental religious-philosophical antecedents and independent contemporary parallels—metaphysical, philosophical, and psychological.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY: XXXII. ON LIVING WITH A SPECTER: THE STORY OF ANOMALISTIC PSYCHOLOGY

The subject matter of anomalistic psychology is human behavior and experiences for which paranormal or occult causation is claimed and which appear to violate some of the basic principles on which nature is known to operate. The ambivalence and skepticism of American psychologists concerning paranormal and occult matters are examined historically, as is the relationship between academic psychology, psychical research and parapsychology, and anomalistic psychology. The difference between parapsychology and anomalistic psychology in terms of two contrasting orientations is stressed. The reasons for the persistence of beliefs in ESP and related phenomena are examined, and the need for psychology to come to grips with them is stated.