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Use of the Semantic Differential with Poetic Forms

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Abstract

The semantic differential technique was used to evaluate the mood evoked by the 4 basic types of poetic feet. Data from 129 Ss showed that iambic and trochaic feet evoked significant feelings of heavy, sad, earnest, tragic, and outdoor, whereas anapestic and dactylic feet were associated with feelings of light, happy, playful, humorous, and indoor. There were no differences on dimensions of restless-calm and important-trivial. Implications for selection of poems used in poetry therapy and for interpretations of poems written by patients were considered.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, 75222, USA

    W. H. Tedford Jr. & Carolyn Sue Synnott

Authors
  1. W. H. Tedford Jr.
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  2. Carolyn Sue Synnott
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Additional information

This research was supported in part by NSF Grant No. GU 3752. Portions of the study were presented at the Southwestern Psychological Association meeting in San Antonio, Texas, in April, 1971.

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Tedford, W.H., Synnott, C.S. Use of the Semantic Differential with Poetic Forms. Psychol Rec 22, 369–373 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394101

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