The Heart's Response to the Portrayal of Violence

Abstract

Observations have been made on the heart-rate and adrenaline and noradrenaline release in people watching films portraying violence. Contrary to the findings in other emotional situations, the heart-rate slowed during the films suggesting overactivity of the parasympathetic nerve-supply to the heart. Adrenaline excretion in the urine was increased, a finding usually connected with sympathetic overactivity. The suggestion is made that under the conditions of these observations, both sympathetic and parasympathetic overactivity are stimulated, the parasympathetic effect dominating the heart-rate.