Effects of diagnostic labels and subject dogmatism upon the perception of persons

Slides of unfamiliar individuals were rated on six semantic differential scales by high-dogmatic and low-dogmatic subjects. Subjects were informed that the individuals depicted were either normal, neurotic, or psychotic. Results indicated that diagnostic labels significantly affected the ratings and that one factor (a general Emotional Stability factor) accounted for 77.9% of the rating variance. Level of dogmatism appeared to affect subjects' ratings, although not in the manner predicted.