PSYC 2740 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Sympathetic Nervous System, Electrodermal Activity, Trait Theory

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

Document Summary

Theoretical bridge: the connection between 2 different variables. Specific conditions or stimulus (eg and audience) personality trait (eg shyness) psychological response behaviour: running away (eg anxiety) Electrodermal activity: electricity will flow across the skin with less restraint if that skin is made damp with sweat. Sweating on the palms of hands is activated by the sympathetic nervous system, and so electrodermal activity is a way to directly measure changes in the sympathetic nervous system. Provides measure of sympathetic nervous system activity. Skin conductance: the degree to which the skin carries or conducts electricity, which depends on the amount of water present in the skin. Intensity and 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. Stress induction: matching game in which failure feedback is given (even when a response if correct)