The present study examines relationships between specific types of speech disruption denoting anxiety (the “non-ah” ratio; Mahl, 1959) and tense usage among normal Ss as they experience a real-life stress situation. Major findings are low positive correlations between anxiety and present tense (r = .38, p < .05) and between anxiety and present plus future tense (r = .43, p < .05). Since statistical controls (partial correlation) indicate that these relationships are independent of verbal productivity, it appears likely chat normal Ss respond to stress by emphasizing present time. It is tentatively suggested that this behavior may serve a coping or problem-solving function.
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