Effects of Provocation on Emotions and Aggression: An Experimental Study with Aggressive Children

2006 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Stadler ◽  
Sonja Rohrmann ◽  
Sibylle Steuber ◽  
Fritz Poustka
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Skin Conductance Level ◽  
Physiological Measures ◽  
Competitive Reaction ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Conduct Disordered ◽  
Physiological Variables ◽  
Aggressive Children ◽  
Conductance Level

In this study, the effects of an experimental-induced provocation on emotions and aggression were examined in 34 aggressive conduct-disordered children using a competitive reaction time paradigm. Two experimental conditions were created, an increasing provocation and a low constant provocation condition. Self-rated anger was assessed directly after provocation on a 5-point-visual scale. In addition, negative and positive emotions as well as physiological measures (heart rate and skin conductance level) were measured at baseline and after provocation. Results revealed that participants’ aggressive behaviour and subjective emotions differed as a function of the opponent’s level of provocation. Concerning physiological parameters, no significant differences were found between the experimental conditions. These results suggest that affective, but not physiological variables characterize reactive aggression in conduct-disordered children.

scholarly journals Gratitude Affects Inter-Subjective Synchronicity for Cognitive Performance and Autonomic Responsiveness

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michela Balconi ◽  
Giulia Fronda
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Cooperative Behavior ◽  
Skin Conductance Level ◽  
Gift Exchange ◽  
Behavioral Performance ◽  
Autonomic Activity ◽  
Subjective Analysis ◽  
The Gift ◽  
Conductance Level

Recently, social neurosciences have been interested in the investigation of neurophysiological responses related to the experience of positive emotions, such as gratitude, during social interactions. Specifically, the aim of the present research was to investigate whether gratitude related to gift exchange could favor cooperative behavior and bond construction, by improving behavioral and autonomic responsivity. At this regard, the autonomic synchronization and behavioral performance of 16 friends coupled in dyads were recorded during a joint attentional task. Gift exchange could be occurred either at the beginning or in the middle of the task. For the recording of simultaneous autonomic activity [heart rate (HR) and skin conductance level (SCL)], a hyperscanning biofeedback paradigm was used. Intra-subjective analysis showed an increase in behavioral [accuracy (ACC)] and autonomic responses (HR and SCL) when the gift exchange took place at the beginning of the task rather than in the middle. Moreover, inter-subjective analysis revealed an increase in behavioral performance and greater autonomic synchronization of HR index. The present research, therefore, shows how gratitude and trust experienced following gift exchange can modify participants’ reactions by creating a shared cognition and the adoption of joint strategies.

Effects of Fear Induction on Heart Period Variability

1999 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudolf Stark ◽  
Alfons Hamm ◽  
Anne Schienle ◽  
Bertram Walter ◽  
Dieter Vaitl
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Trait Anxiety ◽  
State Anxiety ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Emotional States ◽  
Heart Period ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Heart Period Variability ◽  
Physiological Variables ◽  
Period Variability

Abstract The present study investigated the influence of contextual fear in comparison to relaxation on heart period variability (HPV), and analyzed differences in HPV between low and high anxious, nonclinical subjects. Fifty-three women participated in the study. Each subject underwent four experimental conditions (control, fear, relaxation, and a combined fear-relaxation condition), lasting 10 min each. Fear was provoked by an unpredictable aversive human scream. Relaxation should be induced with the aid of verbal instructions. To control for respiratory effects on HPV, breathing was paced at 0.2 Hz using an indirect light source. Besides physiological measures (HPV measures, ECG, respiration, forearm EMG, blood pressure), emotional states (pleasure, arousal, dominance, state anxiety) were assessed by subjects' self-reports. Since relaxation instructions did not have any effect neither on the subjective nor on the physiological variables, the present paper focuses on the comparison of the control and the fear condition. The scream reliably induced changes in both physiological and self-report measures. During the fear condition, subjects reported more arousal and state anxiety as well as less pleasure and dominance. Heart period decreased, while EMG and diastolic blood pressure showed a tendency to increase. HPV remained largely unaltered with the exception of the LF component, which slightly decreased under fear induction. Replicating previous findings, trait anxiety was negatively associated with HPV, but there were no treatment-specific differences between subjects with low and high trait anxiety.

Validation of a monetary Taylor Aggression Paradigm: Associations with trait aggression and role of provocation sequence

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Konzok ◽  
L Kreuzpointner ◽  
GI Henze ◽  
L Wagels ◽  
C Kärgel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Random Sequence ◽  
Reactive Aggression ◽  
Reaction Time Task ◽  
Competitive Reaction ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Fixed Sequence ◽  
Taylor Aggression Paradigm ◽  
Trait Aggression ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
In Series

© 2020 Elsevier Inc. The Taylor Aggression Paradigm (TAP) is widely used to measure reactive aggression in laboratory settings. While modified versions (mTAPs) with various stimulus characteristics (shocks, noise, pressure, heat) have already been established, a modified version with monetary stimuli has only been introduced very recently. In this experiment, 209 young healthy participants (104 males, 105 females) completed a mock Competitive Reaction Time Task (CRTT) with a fictional opponent with preprogrammed 40 win and 60 lose trials. In lose trials, participants were provoked by subtracting a low (0–20 euro cents), medium (30–60 cents) or high (70–90 cents) amount of money from their fictitious account. Provocation stimuli were either presented randomly or in a fixed sequence (experimental conditions). In contrast to a random sequence, the fixed sequence was generated by repeating trials from the same provocation category in series of three. Linear mixed models (LMMs) considering aggression trajectories revealed significant effects of provocation (low, medium, high) and trait aggression (K-FAF) on reactive aggression. Men showed significantly higher reactive aggression levels than women. In regard to provocation sequence, we found no significant difference in reactive aggression between the random vs. fixed stimulus sequences. The findings provide new evidence supporting the view that the monetary mTAP is able to induce as well as capture reactive aggression in the laboratory. Additionally, we found no advantage of a fixed sequence as the level of reactive aggression in a given trial appeared to be mainly predicted by the preceding provocation trial.

Emotional processing and the autonomic nervous system: a comprehensive meta-analytic investigation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Silva Moreira ◽  
Pedro Chaves ◽  
Nuno Dias ◽  
Patrício Costa ◽  
Pedro Rocha Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Autonomic Nervous System ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Emotional Processing ◽  
Skin Conductance Level ◽  
The Body ◽  
Analytic Investigation ◽  
Physiological Basis ◽  
Autonomic Nervous ◽  
Conductance Level

Background: The search for autonomic correlates of emotional processing has been a matter of interest for the scientific community with the goal of identifying the physiological basis of emotion. Despite an extensive state-of-the-art exploring the correlates of emotion, there is no absolute consensus regarding how the body processes an affective state.Objectives: In this work, we aimed to aggregate the literature of psychophysiological studies in the context of emotional induction. Methods: For this purpose, we conducted a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analytic investigation, comparing different measures from the electrodermal, cardiovascular, respiratory and facial systems across emotional categories/dimensions. Two-hundred and ninety-one studies met the inclusion criteria and were quantitatively pooled in random-effects meta-analytic modelling. Results: Heart rate and skin conductance level were the most reported psychophysiological measures. Overall, there was a negligible differentiation between emotional categories with respect to the pooled estimates. Of note, considerable amount of between-studies’ heterogeneity was found in the meta-analytic aggregation. Self-reported ratings of emotional arousal were found to be associated with specific autonomic-nervous system (ANS) indices, particularly with the variation of the skin conductance level. Conclusions: Despite this clear association, there is still a considerable amount of unexplained variability that raises the need for more fine-grained analysis to be implemented in future research in this field.

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing versus exposure in vivo

1997 ◽  
Vol 171 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Muris ◽  
Harald Merckelbach ◽  
Hans Van Haaften ◽  
Birgit Mayer
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movement ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Skin Conductance Level ◽  
Specific Phobia ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Additional Value ◽  
Conductance Level

BackgroundEye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) is a relatively new therapeutic technique that has been proposed as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and other anxiety complaints.MethodWe compared the efficacy of EMDR with that of exposure in viv. in the treatment of a specific phobia. Twenty-two spider-phobic children who met the DSM – III – R criteria for specific phobia participated in the study. Children were treated with one session of exposure in viv. and one session of EMDR in a crossover design. Treatment outcome was evaluated by self-report measures, a behavioural avoidance test and a physiological index (skin conductance level).ResultsResults showed positive effects of EMDR, but also suggest that it is especially self-report measures that are sensitive to EMDR. Improvement on a behavioural measure was less pronounced, and exposure in viv. was found to be superior in reducing avoidance behaviour. With regard to skin conductance level, EMDR and exposure in viv. did not differ.ConclusionsEMDR has no additional value in treatment of this type of animal phobia, for which exposure in viv. is the treatment of choice.

The effect of hand immersion on body temperature when wearing impermeable clothing

1991 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-47
Author(s):  
A. J. Allsopp ◽  
Kerry A. Poole
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Environmental Temperature ◽  
List Type ◽  
Physiological Measures ◽  
Total Work ◽  
Mean Skin Temperature ◽  
Work Time ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Rest Periods

AbstractThe effects of hand immersion on body temperature have been investigated in men wearing impermeable NBC clothing. Six men worked continuously at a rate of approximately 490 J.sec−1 in an environmental temperature of 30°C. Each subject was permitted to rest for a period of 20 minutes when their aural temperature reached 37.5°C, and again on reaching 38°C, and for a third time on reaching 38.5°C (three rest periods in total). Each subject completed three experimental conditions whereby, during the rest periods they either: a.Did not immerse their hands (control).b.Immersed both hands in a water bath set at 25°c.c.Immersed both hands in water at 10°C.Physiological measures of core temperature, skin temperature and heart rate were recorded at intervals throughout the experiment.Measures of mean aural temperature and mean skin temperature were significantly (P<0.05) reduced if hands were immersed during these rest periods, compared to non immersion. As a result, the total work time of subjects was extended when in the immersed conditions by some 10–20 minutes within the confines of the protocol.It is concluded that this technique of simple hand immersion may be effective in reducing heat stress where normal routes to heat loss are compromised.

scholarly journals Physiological synchrony promotes cooperative success in real-life interactions

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Behrens ◽  
J. A. Snijdewint ◽  
R. G. Moulder ◽  
E. Prochazkova ◽  
E. E. Sjak-Shie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Cooperative Behavior ◽  
Skin Conductance Level ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Dyadic Interaction ◽  
Gut Feelings ◽  
The Face ◽  
Social Decision Making ◽  
Conductance Level

AbstractCooperation is pivotal for society to flourish and prosper. To ease cooperation, humans express and read emotions and intentions via explicit signals or subtle reflections of arousal visible in the face. Evidence is accumulating that humans synchronize these nonverbal expressions, as well as the physiological mechanisms underlying them, potentially promoting cooperative behavior. The current study is designed to verify the existence of this putative linkage between synchrony and cooperation. To that extent, 152 participants played multiple rounds of the Prisoner’s Dilemma game in a naturalistic dyadic interaction setting. During one round of games they could see each other, and during a second round they could not. The results showed that when people’s heart rate and skin conductance level aligned, they cooperated more successfully. Interestingly, for skin conductance level synchrony to boost cooperation, face to face contact was essential. The effect of heart rate synchrony on cooperation was context independent. Skin conductance level, but not heart rate, tended to closely correlate with changes in pupil size and we discuss how the pupil might provide a window to partners’ sympathetic arousal. These findings show how unconscious mechanisms guide social behavior and emphasize the importance of studying social processes between rather than within individuals in real-life interactions.Significance StatementHuman cooperation is remarkable in its scale, complexity, and efficiency. However, whereas people think of themselves as rational agents, they actually partly base their decision to cooperate with someone on gut feelings. These feelings are informed by non-verbal expressions that are picked up implicitly and that synchronize across interaction partners. For the first time, we show that the alignment of people’s arousal over multiple rounds of the Prisoners’ dilemma game predicts cooperative success. Through synchrony, partners converge emotionally, fostering understanding and bonding, which are key ingredients when it comes to successful cooperation. This suggests that successfully cooperating does not depend on individuals, but on the connection between individuals, emphasizing the importance of studying social decision-making processes in real-life settings.

The Experimental Study on the Fire Suppression Effectiveness of Water Mist with the FeCl2 Additives

2013 ◽  
Vol 790 ◽  
pp. 53-56
Author(s):  
Chen Jian ◽  
Xu Yan Ying ◽  
Wang Na
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Fire Suppression ◽  
Water Mist ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Additive Concentration ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Fire Source ◽  
Fire Extinguishing ◽  
Nozzle Position

This paper presents an experimental study of fire suppression effectiveness with water mist containing FeCl2 additives.The investigation focuses on suppression effectiveness under various FeCl2 additives concentrations,working pressures and nozzle different height above the fire source . The experimental results show that: there is a significant impact on fire suppression effectiveness when adding FeCl2 to water mist. There is an optimum additive concentration of extinguishing fire, corresponding to the shortest extinguishing time, the least amount of water, the highest efficiency of extinguishing fire. The nozzle working pressures and nozzle position have effect on the performance of the water mist extinguishing: the greater the pressure is, the shorter water mist fire extinguishing time is. Under the same experimental conditions, the closer the water mist nozzles are to the oil pan, the shorter extinguishing time is.

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