Effect of cognitive appraisal on d' and response bias to experimental stress

The effects of an intellectualization-denial passage designed to modify cognitive appraisal of stressor stimuli (gory scences) were evaluated in terms of sensory-decision theory analysis. The passage was found to reduce "felt stress" ') for certain pairs of the stimuli addressed by the passage content but to less effective in reducing stress (Lx) was reduced rather than increased wi;h presentation of the passage for the included simuli only. Differences in d' between subjects classified within treatment groups as repressors versus sensitizers were obtained for certain stimulus pairs generally in the direction of lower sensitivity for repressors. Results are discussed in terms of the effects of altered cognitive appraisal on the "prevention of stress" and on "defensive"denial.