Styles of adaptation to the Stroop task were studied with the Serial Color-Word Test among 50 schizophrenic patients and 50 sex- and age-matched clinical controls. Measures of linear (R) and nonlinear change (V) in reading times were derived for each of the five interference trials. Schizophrenia was significantly characterized by (1) a high sum of nonlinear change, (2) the Cumulative-Dissociative pattern (high R and high V), (3) concomitantly high secondary Vs (V of the 5 Rs and V of the 5 Vs), and (4) Cumulative-Dissociative secondary patterns (gradual increase of both linear and nonlinear change on both the 5 Rs and the 5 Vs).