Abstract
24 Ss were tachistoscopically shown a series of nonsense figures in a counterbalanced design in which half of the figures were preceded by the subliminal word “angry” and half by a blank. Ss rated each figure on an “angriness” scale that indicated how “angry” the figure looked. Ss also rated themselves on the Sarason Hostility Scale. Contrary to expectations, figures preceded by the subliminal word “angry” were rated as only slightly “angrier looking” than figures preceded by the blank. However, a significant product-moment correlation was obtained between Ss' self-ratings on the hostility scale and their responses to the subliminal word “angry” as measured by their ratings of the figures, indicating that the occurrence of the physiognomic effect of the subliminal word depended on Ss' consciousness of their hostile feelings and thoughts.
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