David C. Glass

The effects of social stimuli on psychophysiological reactivity to an aversive film

Stress was induced by an aversive film, and stress responses were measured by tonic skin conductance and self-reports of tension. Contrary to initial expectations, skin conductance levels were greater in the presence of a friend than in the presence of a stranger and greater than in a condition where Ss watched the film alone. The results also showed that a friend who was blocked from view produced higher levels of skin conductance and subjective tension than did a friend who was visible to the S, whereas the effect was just the opposite for visible and nonvisible strangers. Both sets of findings were interpreted in terms of conflicting needs for anonymity and emotional comparison.