In a laboratory study, individual differences in private body consciousness (PBC), or the ability to detect body sensation changes, were investigated as a determinant of excitation transfer in aggression. Under the guise of a study of the effects of non-prescription drugs on problem solving and memory functioning, 80 male introductory psychology students participated in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design where they were (a) assigned by PBC (high or low), (b) consumed or did not consume 300 mg caffeine, and (c) given accurate or inaccurate information as to the drug (stimulant or vitamin) they consumed. Repeated measures of blood pressure, heart rate, and self-reports of both body sensation perception and anger were collected Within the course of the experiment, all subjects were insulted by a research assistant, and subsequently given the opportunity to aggress against him by rating his performance as a research assistant. This rating, used as the measure of aggression, was not found to be related independently to PBC, drug, or information conditions. However, a three-way interaction among these variables did occur. High PBC subjects without caffeine but with stimulant information aggressed more than highs with caffeine and stimulant information, and more than lows with caffeine and vitamin information. Lows, on the other hand, aggressed more when under the influence of caffeine and stimulant information than highs in the same drug and information conditions, and more than lows without caffeine but with vitamin information. In addition, PBC was found to interact with the drug information subjects received. High PBC individuals aggressed more when given inaccurate drug information while low PBC subjects aggressed more after receiving information consistent with the drug they had consumed. Anger was not related to magnitude of aggression. Also, physiological recovery after the opportunity to aggress was related to PBC. High PBC persons given caffeine exhibited a reduction in mean arterial blood pressure after the aggression opportunity while low PBCs did not. Findings were discussed in light of the failure of excitation transfer to occur, in relation to possible application to biofeedback training, and with reference to avenues for further research / acase@tulane.edu
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TULANE/oai:http://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/:tulane_25796 |
| Date | January 1984 |
| Contributors | Taylor, Eve Louise (Author) |
| Publisher | Tulane University |
| Source Sets | Tulane University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | Access requires a license to the Dissertations and Theses (ProQuest) database., Copyright is in accordance with U.S. Copyright law |
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