Ss were allowed to choose among 6 illumination conditions by altering their location in a maze. For a choice among 0 (darkness), 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 ft.-candles in Exp. 1, preference decreased with increasing intensities. Ss tested during the dark portion of their cycle showed a stronger preference for darkness than Ss tested during the lighted portion of their cycle. In Exp. 2, preference for 0, .01, .1, 1.0, 10.0, and 25.0 ft.-candles was again inversely related to intensity, except that there was no difference between preference for darkness and .01 ft.-candles.
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