Repression-sensitization: A critique of some neglected variables in the literature.

Abstract

A review of the published research on Byrne's repression-sensitization dimension reveals a widespread neglect of three important issues: (a) procedural problems including limited subject sampling, extreme variance in distribution statistics, and unstandardized methods of subject classification; (6) sex differences; and (c) the use of intermediate-scoring subjects. These problems are discussed with pertinent illustrations from the research literature. The following recommendations for future research are presented: (a) Standardized procedures are essential to facilitate valid comparisons across studies; (6) sex differences should be systematically investigated as a matter of standard procedure; and (c) the intermediate range of scorers should be included in all repression-sensitization research.

Emotion During Pregnancy and Delivery as a Function of Repression-Sensitization and Number of Childbirths

“…The fact that the duration of labor (which is a function of physiological conditions) is longer for primiparae than multiparae, may have been responsible for this finding. Chabot (1973) reported that 84% of the research on R-S used undergraduate college students, over one-half of whom were students in introductory psychology classes. He indicated that generalization of the results obtained from these studies must be restricted to a rather specific population.…”

“…) In the present study, 25% of the subjects with the lowest scores were designated as Repressors, 25% with the highest scores as Sensitizers, and the remaining as Intermediates. While the research literature does not report one accepted method of categorizing subjects into Repressors, Intermediates and Sensitizers, many studies favor the method employed in the present study (see Chabot, 1973).…”

The effects of coping primes on responses to messages about disease detection behaviors

“…At one end of the continuum are repressors who characteristically respond to threatening stimuli by avoiding them, employing denial and rationalization. At the other end of the continuum are sensitizers who deal with threatening stimuli by approaching them, employing intellectualization, obsessiveness, and rumination (Bonanno, 1989;Byme, 1961;Chabot, 1973). There is a large literature that explores the relationship between health related behaviors and repression-sensitization.…”

Dynamics of Stress

“…Very likely, the lowscoring group on both indicators represents a mixture of repressors and non-defensives, high scorers can be sensitizers as well as anxious persons, while intermediates have an unclear status (Chabot, 1973).…”