Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2002, Page 109
The neutral script elicited little from Matthew in relation to fear ratings, although a very
small increase was noted at the resolution stage when he was leaving the prison yard to go
to lunch after parade. However, this elevation in response still increased fear ratings only to
a very low level.
When considering the differences between scripts, we noted that all stages of the homicide
script elicited higher ratings of fear in Matthew than did the neutral script. A comparison of
his responses to the aggression script and the neutral script demonstrated elevated ratings
at the incident, consequence, and resolution stages.
Figure 3 presents Matthew‘s ratings for the VAS not agitated-agitated for each stage of each
script. The moments leading up to the homicide and the actual homicide itself elicited the
greatest feelings of agitation in him. Again, the ratings at the consequence stage were low
and coincided with imagery of the immediate aftermath of the homicide when he realized
that he was safe from the victim. Matthew reported increased agitation to a moderate level
during the resolution stage, when he reported that it became imperative that he leave the
scene in case supporters of the victim were present.
Matthew‘s levels of agitation to the stages of the aggression script were extreme, with the
exception of the approach stage, when he reported trying to come to terms with the
situation by discussing it with another person, who agreed that the target of Matthew‘s
animosity was worthy of that animosity. The neutral script did not elicit feelings of agitation
from Matthew, and there was no variation across the stages of this script.
The neutral script elicited little from Matthew in relation to fear ratings, although a very
small increase was noted at the resolution stage when he was leaving the prison yard to go
to lunch after parade. However, this elevation in response still increased fear ratings only to
a very low level.
When considering the differences between scripts, we noted that all stages of the homicide
script elicited higher ratings of fear in Matthew than did the neutral script. A comparison of
his responses to the aggression script and the neutral script demonstrated elevated ratings
at the incident, consequence, and resolution stages.
Figure 3 presents Matthew‘s ratings for the VAS not agitated-agitated for each stage of each
script. The moments leading up to the homicide and the actual homicide itself elicited the
greatest feelings of agitation in him. Again, the ratings at the consequence stage were low
and coincided with imagery of the immediate aftermath of the homicide when he realized
that he was safe from the victim. Matthew reported increased agitation to a moderate level
during the resolution stage, when he reported that it became imperative that he leave the
scene in case supporters of the victim were present.
Matthew‘s levels of agitation to the stages of the aggression script were extreme, with the
exception of the approach stage, when he reported trying to come to terms with the
situation by discussing it with another person, who agreed that the target of Matthew‘s
animosity was worthy of that animosity. The neutral script did not elicit feelings of agitation
from Matthew, and there was no variation across the stages of this script.
