PHYSIOLOGICAL AND SUBJECTIVE ADAPTATION TO SHOCK: A DISCREPANCY.

Abstract

The purpose of the experiment was to compare subjective and physiological adaptation to 15 repeated electric shocks of the same intensity. Twenty-four subjects received shocks at the highest level they would tolerate, 24 others received shocks at their predetermined 'annoying' level. All subjects were told that shock intensity would vary from trial to trial and that their task was to rate the intensity of each shock. The data for both groups show that there was no physiological adaptation, as determined by size of GSRs, but there was significant subjective adaptation. The results are accounted for in terms of special qualities of the stimulus -- electric shock. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1966
Accession Number
AD0632893

Entities

People

  • Larry Gaupp
  • Robert M. Stern

Organizations

  • Indiana University Bloomington

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Adaptation (Biological)
  • Adaptation (Physiological)
  • Biological Phenomena
  • Biological Processes
  • Intensity

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Brain and Cognitive Science; Experimental Psychology; Cognitive Neuroscience