Figurative and Literal Misinterpretations of Words by Process and Reactive Schizophrenics

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Abstract
A study by Chapman has indicated that schizophrenics, compared with a “normal” group, make significantly greater literal misinterpretations of words. 17 reactive schizophrenics, 29 process schizophrenics, and 21 general medical-surgical patients, suffering from a chronic physical illness, were compared on Chapman's test of word meanings. Contrary to expectation, no significant differences were found between the experimental groups. Possible explanations for these results are that unlike Chapman's study, Ss in the present study were equivalent in vocabulary level and, although chronic, were newly admitted to the hospital, or that misinterpretation of words may be a characreristic of chronic illness in general and not specific to schizophrenia.

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