How to push someone's buttons: A comparison of four anger-induction methods
Titel:
How to push someone's buttons: A comparison of four anger-induction methods
Auteur:
Lobbestael, Jill Arntz, Arnoud Wiers, Reinout W.
Verschenen in:
Cognition & emotion
Paginering:
Jaargang 22 (2008) nr. 2 pagina's 353-373
Jaar:
2008-02
Inhoud:
This study compared the effects of four ways of inducing anger: film, stress interview, punishment, and harassment. Sixty-four healthy participants were randomly assigned to one of these conditions. Effects were examined by means of self-report and physiological measures (blood pressure, heart rate, skin conductance level, and skin conductance response). All four methods produced comparable levels of self-reported anger, while harassment and interview produced the largest cardiovascular effects, and electrodermal activity increased more in reaction to harassment, interview, and punishment conditions compared to film. Thus, physiological reactivity was especially increased by anger-induction methods that included personal contact (harassment and interview). Regarding specificity of self-reported emotions, fear and frustration were the only emotions out of nine non-target emotions that increased in comparable degree to anger following film, interview, and punishment, while harassment produced more self-reported anger than fear. Possible explanations and further recommendations are discussed.