RESPONSIVENESS OF CHRONIC SCHIZOPHRENICS TO THE SOCIAL BEHAVIOR OF OTHERS IN A MEANINGFUL TASK SITUATION.

In this experiment 60 schizophrenics were given the task of stamping a number of greetings to accompany gifts. Instructions to hurry or to be cautious induced reliably differing rates of responding. In order to test the hypotheses concerning the social behavior of the schizophrenic, pairs of Ss were brought together to work in the same room--1 responding slowly and the other rapidly. As a consequence of being in the presence of another patient working at the same task both partners increased their rate of responding, indicating the effect of social facilitation. When the patients were given role instructions with relation to one another their rates of responding converged. Although these changes in behavior took place none of the 22 pairs of Ss (11 in co-working, 11 in role related conditions) discussed the discrepancy or change in behavior. These results confirmed the hypothesis that schizophrenics will exhibit appropriate social motivation and responsiveness when behaving in a meaningful situation which does not depend on the use of language or complex cognitive skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]