Stress Response in Total and Partial Perceptual Isolation

A study was made of physiological (GSR) and verbal stress responses to total perceptual isolation (darkness and silence) and partial isolation (darkness with sound or silence with light). The results on the GSR indices indicate that, after 1½ hr., total isolation is more stressful than partial isolation. Verbal indices indicate that all types of isolation are equally stressful. The results indicate that a social set theory is not sufficient to explain the stressful effects of perceptual restriction.