Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2002, Page 111
For the between-script differences, Matthew demonstrated elevated ratings of agitation for
all stages of both the homicide and aggression scripts relative to the neutral script.
Figure 4 presents Matthew‘s ratings for each stage of each script for the VAS not anxious-
anxious. In relation to the homicide script, he demonstrated an increase from a moderate
level of anxiety at the scene stage to a peak of extreme anxiety at the incident stage.
During the consequence stage, he reported his anxiety to be low, and this coincided with
imagery relating to his standing over the body, feeling relief that the threat had passed. His
return to an extreme level of anxiety at the resolution stage was associated with an
awareness that danger might still be present, and of a need to leave the scene.
In contrast, the aggression script elicited a different pattern of response in Matthew, with an
initial high level of anxiety in the scene and approach stages, escalating to an extreme level
of anxiety from the incident stage onward, with no reduction over the course of the final
three stages. The neutral imagery script did not elicit feelings of anxiety in him.
When making comparisons between scripts, we noted that both the homicide script and the
aggression script elicited higher ratings of anxiety at all stages compared with the neutral
script.
Figure 4. Matthew’s ratings for the VAS not anxious-anxious for each stage of the
three scripts
Figure 5 presents Matthew‘s ratings for each stage of each script for the VAS not angry-
angry. In relation to homicide imagery, Matthew‘s anger increased from a moderate level at
the scene stage to a peak of anger at a high level in the approach stage, in which imagery
depicted the verbal interaction between Matthew and Kane. At the incident stage, Matthew‘s
anger again was at a moderate level it decreased further during the consequence and
resolution stages so that no anger was evident by the end of imagery presentation.
0
20
40
60
80
100
Scene Approach Incident Consequence Resolution
Stage
Murder
Aggression
Neutral Not
anxious-
For the between-script differences, Matthew demonstrated elevated ratings of agitation for
all stages of both the homicide and aggression scripts relative to the neutral script.
Figure 4 presents Matthew‘s ratings for each stage of each script for the VAS not anxious-
anxious. In relation to the homicide script, he demonstrated an increase from a moderate
level of anxiety at the scene stage to a peak of extreme anxiety at the incident stage.
During the consequence stage, he reported his anxiety to be low, and this coincided with
imagery relating to his standing over the body, feeling relief that the threat had passed. His
return to an extreme level of anxiety at the resolution stage was associated with an
awareness that danger might still be present, and of a need to leave the scene.
In contrast, the aggression script elicited a different pattern of response in Matthew, with an
initial high level of anxiety in the scene and approach stages, escalating to an extreme level
of anxiety from the incident stage onward, with no reduction over the course of the final
three stages. The neutral imagery script did not elicit feelings of anxiety in him.
When making comparisons between scripts, we noted that both the homicide script and the
aggression script elicited higher ratings of anxiety at all stages compared with the neutral
script.
Figure 4. Matthew’s ratings for the VAS not anxious-anxious for each stage of the
three scripts
Figure 5 presents Matthew‘s ratings for each stage of each script for the VAS not angry-
angry. In relation to homicide imagery, Matthew‘s anger increased from a moderate level at
the scene stage to a peak of anger at a high level in the approach stage, in which imagery
depicted the verbal interaction between Matthew and Kane. At the incident stage, Matthew‘s
anger again was at a moderate level it decreased further during the consequence and
resolution stages so that no anger was evident by the end of imagery presentation.
0
20
40
60
80
100
Scene Approach Incident Consequence Resolution
Stage
Murder
Aggression
Neutral Not
anxious-
