The contribution of nondeprivation factors in the production of sensory deprivation effects: The psychology of the "panic button."

Abstract

From the premise that both social cue factors, or demand characteristics, and sensory deprivation operations combine in producing commonly observed effects of sensory deprivation, an experiment is reported which tests the hypothesis that sensory deprivation effects can be produced by manipulating demand characteristics while holding the effect of the physical environment constant. Experimental Ss were exposed to pre-experimental conditions which were designed to imply to them that sensory deprivation effects were expected to emerge. The same physical conditions were structured for control Ss in such a way as to lead them to expect nothing to happen. Results show that the groups were significantly different on a number of before and after tests, as well as in general clinical appearance, and these results were interpreted as supporting the hypothesis. An interpretation is offered of the operation of demand characteristics as a factor interacting with treatment conditions. Ways of taking demand characteristics into account in sensory deprivation research are suggested. (22 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)