Support for the discharge model of emotion: A reply to Zuckerman.

Responds to criticisms by M. Zuckerman (see record 1984-11616-001) of a study by the present author et al (see record 1983-05644-001) which reported evidence in support of the discharge model of the relation between facial expressivity and physiological reactivity. It is argued that Zuckerman's challenge to the Notarius et al study and conclusions is unfounded for 2 reasons: (a) Zuckerman's critique contains several interpretative errors of the Notarius et al study, and (b) subsequent data analysis, recommended by Zuckerman, overwhelmingly supports the original interpretation of the study. (2 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Specific and generalized expectancies in marital interaction.

40 married couples engaged in 2 laboratory interactions. The Marital Agendas Protocol was used to assess relational efficacy, and spouses' expectancies for partner behaviors during each interaction were elicited. Subsequent to the interactions, spouses' perceptions of their partners' actual behaviors were indicated, and spouses chose situational or dispositional attributions for each behavior. Results showed that distressed couples expect more negative and fewer positive behaviors and that spouses with high relational efficacy choose relationship-enhancing attributions more often than do low-efficacy spouses. The low-efficacy group showed strong preferences for distress-maintaining attributions. The results are interpreted as supporting the concept of sentiment override as well as the usefulness of the specific operationalization of relational efficacy utilized. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interpersonal ambivalence, perceived relationship adjustment, and conjugal loss

Ambivalence is widely assumed to prolong grief. To examine this hypothesis, the authors developed a measure of ambivalence based on an algorithmic combination of separate positive and negative evaluations of one's spouse. Preliminary construct validity was evidenced in relation to emotional difficulties and to facial expressions of emotion. Bereaved participants, relative to a nonbereaved comparison sample, recollected their relationships as better adjusted but were more ambivalent. Ambivalence about spouses was generally associated with increased distress and poorer perceived health but did not predict long-term grief outcome once initial outcome was controlled. In contrast, initial grief and distress predicted increased ambivalence and decreased Dyadic Adjustment Scale scores at 14 months postloss, regardless of initial scores on these measures. Limitations and implications of the findings are discussed.     

Caffeine abstinence augments the systolic blood pressure response to adenosine in humans

Blood pressure and heart rate responses to adenosine infusion (35, 70, and 140 microg/kg/min, intravenously) were studied in 7 healthy men after 6, 30, 78, 150, and 318 hours of abstinence from regular caffeine use. The finding that caffeine abstinence augmented the systolic pressor response (from -1 +/- 2 mm Hg at 6 hours to +9 +/- 2 mm Hg at 318 hours; p = 0.01) but not the tachycardic response to adenosine has implications for current clinical and research applications of this purine.     

Multichannel responses to an interpersonal stressor: Interrelationships among facial display, heart rate, self-report of emotion, and threat appraisal.

60 undergraduates were exposed to a potent, provocative interpersonal stressor while facial displays of emotion were unobtrusively videotaped and heart rate was continuously monitored. Following the stressor situation, Ss completed the Differential Emotions Scale and a questionnaire designed to assess S's appraisal of threat. The video-taped facial expressions were coded by 13 naive judges to assess the intensity of the expression displayed. Minimally expressive Ss reported experiencing more guilt, displayed a significant heart rate increase, and evaluated the situation as more threatening than did the expressive Ss. Results are consistent with aspects of a discharge model of emotion that predict an inverse relationship between overt emotional displays and physiological reactivity in response to an emotional stressor. Findings argue against a facial-feedback hypothesis. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)