Psychology 2990A/B Chapter 3: Psychology and Health

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2990A/B
• Professor: Doug Hazlewood

Document Summary

Rating scale (modified to focus on life changes associated w/ aging) to elderly people in. Participants given several problems to solve (complex addition problems, proofreading task) While working on problems, heard loud bursts of noise coming from various sources: mimeograph machine, typewriter or two people speaking in spanish; noise played at 108 decibels (standing near runway when large commercial jet took off) Condition 1: bursts of noise occurred at unpredictable lengths and at unpredictable intervals over course of 25-minute session. Condition 2: people heard same sequence of noises but were given sense of control over them (given option to stop noise by pressing button, but suggested that they prefer the(cid:455) do(cid:374)"t(cid:895) Condition 3: people worked on problem in peace and quiet. After 25-minute session was over, people in all conditions worked on new problems w/out any noise present. People in this condition heard same amount of noise as people in condition 1 but believed they could stop noise whenever.