PSYC 2740 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Evoked Potential, Longitudinal Study, Sensation Seeking

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2740
• Professor: Stephen Lewis

Document Summary

Physiological systems - the nervous system (brain & nerves), the cardiac system (heart, arteries, & veins), and the musculoskeletal system (muscles and bones, which make all movements and behaviours possible) Three physiological measures of interest: electrodermal activity (skin conductance of electricity, skin on palm of hands & feet contains a high concentration of sweat glands. Emotional reactivity: intensity & persistence of emotion in response to stimuli: thought to be elevated among those who self-injure. Induced stress in 2 groups and measured skin conductance. Individuals with a history of self-injury, individuals without a history of self-injury: stress induction: matching game in which failure feedback is given (even when a response is correct) --> Determine how long people stay in the game & tolerate distress from negative (failure) feedback. Individuals with a history of self-injury have elevated skin conductance & more negative emotional reactivity to stress. Individuals who self-injured also quit the game sooner which also might indicate lower distress tolerance.