Visual Acuity and Stimulus-Seeking Behavior

Abstract

The classic concept of a sense organ as a passive receiver of stimulation is evolving toward a view that considers its exploratory capabilities and its implications for orientation and arousal. Recent research, for example, suggests that the pupillary response and fixation saccadic eye movements are directly implicated in processes of cortical activation. Results of this study suggest that visual acuity may also be better understood within an activation theory framework. Specifically, the position was taken that individuals with low visual acuity might be seen as persons with low preferred levels of activation who seek to reduce stimulus input to maintain activation at their preferred level. In support of this position, individuals with high uncorrected visual acuity were found to demonstrate a higher preferred level of stimulation and to produce more exciting and novel stories in response to TAT stimuli than did low-acuity individuals.

Separation-Individuation Issues and Castration Anxiety: Their Curious Influence on the Epigenesis of Myopia

“…Numerous other studies ( Kelley, 1958( Kelley, , 1962 have described myopic individuals as inwardly apprehensive, with an external appearance of " calmness " ( Palmer, 1966( Palmer, , 1970, as being high on concealment, high on suppression, although not on repression, more perseverative, more ascendant, more feminine ( Schapero and Hirsch (1952) , more refl ective, and less impulsive. Other studies ( Seitler, 1979( Seitler, , 1981 have shown that myopic boys exhibited signifi cantly higher scores of abstract verbal and non-verbal conceptualization and inductive reasoning than did normalsighted youngsters on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children.…”

“…For the purpose of balance and intellectual openness, let me say that if there is any correlation whatsoever to the differential contribution of genetics, it might be related to the " weak link " theory or to constitutional factors, in which the impact of tension on the individual is felt in the weakest link of the chain, in this case, the eyes. This seems less probable to me for the simple reason that numerous researchers have pointed to common personality traits that myopic individuals seem to share ( Huebsch, 1931 ;Jelliffe, 1926 ;Kelley, 1962 ;Palmer, 1966Palmer, , 1970. A genetic explanation, even one that attempts to conceive of myopia through the superfi cial sleight of hand and indirection engendered in a weak link concept, cannot explain why common personality traits seem to have existed even before the myopic symptom fi rst appeared, or why such traits are either not seen at all or are signifi cantly less evident in normal-sighted individuals.…”

“…This is in keeping with the principle of " homeostasis, " which is the tendency on the part of the organism to seek to attain (or maintain) an internal equilibrium, or status quo within and between its sub-systems ( Cannon, 1932 ;Fenichel, 1945 ;Freud (1915) ; Kubie, 1950 ;Maslow, 1954 ;Miller and Swanson, 1960 , and many others). Palmer (1966Palmer ( , 1970 has invoked the concept of homeostasis with particular reference to those individuals who have myopia. He postulates that myopes are those individuals who seek to reduce visual stimulation (and possibly other forms of stimulation, as well) in order to achieve a level of excitation or arousal required by their homeostatic system.…”

Sensation seeking and participation in aerobic exercise classes

“…Though they are not particularly sensitive to simple sensory stimuli (Bone, Choban, & Cowling, 1974;cited in Zuckerman, 1979, p. 221;Kish, Frankel, Masters, & Berry, 1976;Neary, 1973;cited in Zuckerman, 1979, P. 220), high sensation seekers seem to be able to recognize symbols and figures faster than low sensation seekers (Buchsbaum & Murphy, 1974; cited in Zuckerman, 1979, P. 223;Neary & Zuckerman, 1976;Palmer, 1970). low sensation seekers.…”