Repression‐sensitization and yielding to threatening health communications

Abstract

Adult male subjects (N = 79) completed Byrne's revised Repression‐Senshization scale to determine their defensive style. A median split was used to classify these subjects as Repressers or Sensitizers. Two years later they viewed a film that contained a warning about lung cancer and information on a new diagnostic test. Subjects were randomly assigned to three treatment conditons and accordingly saw either the high, medium, or low threat film. Subsequently, unobtrusive measures of yielding indicated whether subjects applied for the test (acceptance) and which of these took the further step of sending specimens for diagnosis (adoption). Results showed that, in a ratio of two to one, Sensitize..