Depressive retardation and subliminally manipulated aggressive involvement

A group of 43 adult psychiatric in-patients with a preliminary diagnosis of depression were tested with the Meta-Contrast Technique to determine degree of depressive retardation. They were also given an Identification Test where subliminal tagging was used to direct identification with an aggressor or a victim depicted on a tachistoscopically exposed stimulus. The higher the degree of depressive retardation the more reluctant the subjects were to get involved in the aggressor-victim theme. A Creative Functioning Test also attested to the empty, dehumanized experiential world of the most retarded subjects.