Effects of material rewards on inkblot perception and organization

To explore further the potential relationship between material rewards and developmental regression, this research examined the effects of material rewards on perceptual organization as measured by Holtzman inkblot responses. Forty introductory psychology students (20 males and 20 females) were assigned to either a reward or nonreward group initially matched on sex and IQ. Reward subjects had lower scores on form definiteness, form appropriateness, integration, human, movement, color, and shading; faster response time; and higher scores on location and on pathognomic verbalization. Although reward/nonreward differences reached significance only for form definiteness, form appropriateness, shading, and response time, the differences on all 10 Holtzman Inkblot Technique variables that are sensitive to developmental change were in the predicted direction of a lower level of functioning under reward.