The present study assessed Osgood's suggestion that moderate drive is correlated with more stereotyped (dominant) responses than either high or low drive states. Of specific interest was the interaction of psychological drive and physiological arousal as related to changes in verbal response stereotypy. Scores on the Pt scale of the MMPI and two autonomic indicants were employed as measures of drive and word associations were the verbal responses. Stimuli were presented under high and low arousal conditions, and response measures were recorded simultaneously. Some inconsistencies were noted, but the results, in general, support the hypothesis.
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