Visual information processing with obsessive-compulsive and hysteric personalities

Utilizing a visual processing task, the study explored whether or not global information processing was more characteristic of hysteric individuals and more focused, local information processing was characteristic of obsessive-compulsive individuals. Subjects performed speeded classification card sorting tasks on Navon (1977) types figures (large letters whose subcomponents are smaller letters) which are presumed to tap local and global aspects of information processing. Personality factors did not seem to influence local or global precedence. Thus the groups may not vary at early levels of information processing, contrary to some theoretical positions.