Interactions between Physiological and Affective Arousal: A Laboratory Exercise for Psychology

Abstract

As part of the laboratory component of an introductory psychology course, 420 students participated in an exercise demonstrating the relation between psychological states and physiological response. Before and during 2 videotape segments, the first relaxing and the second suspenseful, student experimenters measured the heart rate and blood pressure of fellow students who served as participants. Participants also completed 4 psychoaffective items aimed at assessing their subjective arousal to the video stimuli. Both physiological and subjective arousal measures showed significant variation across stimulus conditions, demonstrating the psychophysiological nature of affective arousal. Student evaluation of the laboratory exercise was positive with respect to learning goals, interest in the project, and clarity of procedures.