Campus Access Only
All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of University of the Pacific. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.
Date of Award
1995
Document Type
Thesis - Pacific Access Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Douglas W. Matheson
First Committee Member
Gary N. Howells
Second Committee Member
Roger C. Katz
Abstract
The physiological differences in happy and sad emotional reactions were measured by taking blood pressure, EMG, heart-rate, and skin-temperature while each emotion was evoked in participants. The study used films shown to participants to provoke happy and sad responses. Self-evaluation questionnaires were used to determine how aware the participants were of their physiological changes in both emotional conditions. Results indicated a decrease in systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and EMG responses, but, an increase in skin temperature while participants watched the sad film manipulation. Physiological readings taken during the happy film sequence contradicted the hypotheses of this study. Participants blood pressure, heart rate, and skin temperature readings were lower in the happy condition than in the sad. Electromyography during the happy film manipulation was the only measure to increase as predicted. Attention was paid to the differences in men and women in their physiological responses.
Pages
86
Recommended Citation
Auch, Patricia Marie. (1995). Physiological correlates in happy and sad emotional states. University of the Pacific, Thesis - Pacific Access Restricted. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/2759
To access this thesis/dissertation you must have a valid pacific.edu email address and log-in to Scholarly Commons.
Find in PacificSearch Find in ProQuestIf you are the author and would like to grant permission to make your work openly accessible, please email
Rights Statement
In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
