The Psychedelics: Love or Hostility Potion?
Allan E. Edwards, Marshall H. Bloom, Sidney Cohen
Psychological Reports June 1, 1969 DOI: 10.2466/pr0.1969.24.3.843 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case-control study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | 30 heavy psychedelic users and 30 matched controls |
| Measures | Rosenzweig test, Comrey test |
| Key findings | Heavy psychedelic users showed higher Hostility than matched controls on the Rosenzweig and Comrey tests, and this was the only personality difference found. The authors argue this hostility is unrelated to degree of drug dependency and may reflect a predisposing state, while its expression becomes more extrapunitive and obstacle-dominant as dependency increases. |
Abstract
30 heavy psychedelic users were compared with 30 matched controls using the Rosenzweig and Comrey tests. The drug-dependent group demonstrated aberrant personality traits only with respect to increased Hostility. It appears that this propensity is unrelated to degree of drug dependency and may reflect a predisposing state. People who have difficulty handling their aggressive feelings may tend to become heavy drug users. How this hostility is expressed does appear to change with degree of dependence, becoming more extrapunitive and obstacle dominant as drug dependency increases.