THE EFFECTS OF THREAT OF SHOCK ON HEART RATE FOR SUBJECTS WHO DIFFER IN MANIFEST ANXIETY AND FEAR OF SHOCK

Abstract

ABSTRACT Although there is growing consensus that psychophysiological response to stress is in part a function of the Ss’ definition of the situation, many investigators continue to ignore individual differences in Ss’ interpretation of stressor situations. In this study, high (HA) and low (LA) anxiety Ss were run in Threat of Shock and No Threat Conditions. The Threat Condition produced a significant mean increase in heart rate (HR) as compared to the No Threat Condition, but there was no difference in the HR response of HA and LA Ss to threat of shock. However, Ss who reported moderate to extreme fear of shock two months prior to the experiment responded with greater HR acceleration than Ss who reported little or no fear. These findings were discussed in terms of a conceptualization of “anxiety” which distinguishes between anxiety as a transitory state of the organism and as a relatively permanent personality trait. It was concluded that Ss’“cognitive appraisal” of an experimental situation was an important determinant of psychophysiological responses to stress.

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