THE HYPOTHESIS THAT THE ANXIETY LEVEL OF SUBJECTS WILL AFFECT THEIR TENDENCY TO ACCUMULATE REACTIVE INHIBITION WAS TESTED. THE STUDY EMPLOYED THE CHILDREN'S MANIFEST ANXIETY SCALE TO IDENTIFY 120 HIGH AND LOW SCORERS AND AN INVERTED-NUMBER PRINTING TASK TO QUANTIFY REACTIVE INHIBITION. THE HYPOTHESIS WAS PARTIALLY CONFIRMED. WITH HIGHLY MOTIVATING INSTRUCTIONS, HIGH ANXIETY SUBJECTS ACCUMULATED MORE REACTIVE INHIBITION THAN LOW ANXIETY SUBJECTS, BUT WITH LOW MOTIVATION, THE HIGH AND LOW ANXIETY GROUPS DID NOT DIFFER. ANXIETY LEVEL APPARENTLY BECOMES A POTENTIAL DETERMINER OF INHIBITORY POTENTIAL ONLY AFTER A CRITICAL LEVEL OF MOTIVATION HAS BEEN REACHED. THIS PAPER WAS PRESENTED AT AN ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION (CHICAGO, FEBRUARY 1966). (JH)