Relations Between Dispositional Expressivity and Physiological Changes During Acute Positive and Negative Affect

The aim of the present study is to examine the relations between emotional expressivity measured by Berkeley Expressivity Questionnaire and physiological response in situations where positive and negative affects were induced. On 65 participants four physiological parameters, including finger pulse amplitude, heart rate, skin conductance level and amplitude of skin conductance response were measured. In situations in which negative affect was induced, individuals higher in negative expressivity showed higher skin conductance level, higher amplitude of skin conductance response and higher heart rate compared to individuals low on negative expressivity, whereas finger pulse amplitude did not differ between these two groups. The same results were obtained even when controlling for five factor personality traits and recorded participants’ facial expression. In situation where a positive affect was induced, no differences in sympathetic responses between participants high and low in positive expressivity have been found. The results are explained in the context of Coactivation theory and possible consequences of the results on health outcomes are discussed

Respiratorna sinusna aritmija i emocionalno reagiranje

Respiratorna sinusna aritmija (RSA) smatra se pokazateljem parasimpatičke ili vagusne aktivacije, a posljednjih su nekoliko desetljeća istraživani odnosi između njezinih osnovnih vrijednosti i dinamike s jedne, te različitih kognitivnih i emocionalnih procesa i s njima povezanih osobina ličnosti s druge strane. U radu su ukratko navedene opće funkcije parasimpatikusa te je objašnjen način na koji se aktivacija ove grane autonomnoga živčanog sustava odražava na rad srca. Opisani su polivagusna teorija i model neurovisceralne integracije, koji predstavljaju okvir za razumijevanje odnosa parasimpatičke aktivacije i rada središnjega živčanog sustava, kao i odnosa RSA s kognitivnim i emocionalnim procesima. Nakon pojašnjavanja načina na koje se RSA najčešće mjeri, raspravljeni su aktualni metodološki problemi u istraživanjima RSA u kontekstu kognitivnih procesa, uz isticanje poteškoća pri pokušaju razlikovanja efekata različitih kognitivnih zadataka i tjelesne aktivnosti od efekata emocionalnih odgovora. Konačno, predstavljen je kratak pregled eksperimentalnih istraživanja usmjerenih na promjene u RSA koje prate emocionalne reakcije, te korelacijskih istraživanja koja povezuju temeljne vrijednosti RSA i reaktivnost u RSA s emocionalno definiranim osobinama pojedinca. Različita su predviđanja proizašla iz polivagusne teorije i modela neurovisceralne integracije potvrđena primarno kada se radi o vagusnom povlačenju i sniženom vagusnom tonusu koji su vezani uz stresne reakcije, emociju straha i anksioznost kao osobinu, te nešto manje uz hostilnost kao osobinu. Ukratko su raspravljeni mogući izvori nekonzistentnosti rezultata eksperimentalnih istraživanja odnosa osnovnih emocija i promjena u RSA, kao što su zanemarivanje uloge kognitivnih procesa i tjelesne aktivnosti, te su ponuđena neka metodološka rješenja za uklanjanje nedostataka dosadašnjih istraživanja

La arritmia sinusal respiratoria y reacción emocional

Respiratorna sinusna aritmija (RSA) smatra se pokazateljem parasimpatičke ili vagusne aktivacije, a posljednjih su nekoliko desetljeća istraživani odnosi između njezinih osnovnih vrijednosti i dinamike s jedne, te različitih kognitivnih i emocionalnih procesa i s njima povezanih osobina ličnosti s druge strane. U radu su ukratko navedene opće funkcije parasimpatikusa te je objašnjen način na koji se aktivacija ove grane autonomnoga živčanog sustava odražava na rad srca. Opisani su polivagusna teorija i model neurovisceralne integracije, koji predstavljaju okvir za razumijevanje odnosa parasimpatičke aktivacije i rada središnjega živčanog sustava, kao i odnosa RSA s kognitivnim i emocionalnim procesima. Nakon pojašnjavanja načina na koje se RSA najčešće mjeri, raspravljeni su aktualni metodološki problemi u istraživanjima RSA u kontekstu kognitivnih procesa, uz isticanje poteškoća pri pokušaju razlikovanja efekata različitih kognitivnih zadataka i tjelesne aktivnosti od efekata emocionalnih odgovora. Konačno, predstavljen je kratak pregled eksperimentalnih istraživanja usmjerenih na promjene u RSA koje prate emocionalne reakcije, te korelacijskih istraživanja koja povezuju temeljne vrijednosti RSA i reaktivnost u RSA s emocionalno definiranim osobinama pojedinca. Različita su predviđanja proizašla iz polivagusne teorije i modela neurovisceralne integracije potvrđena primarno kada se radi o vagusnom povlačenju i sniženom vagusnom tonusu koji su vezani uz stresne reakcije, emociju straha i anksioznost kao osobinu, te nešto manje uz hostilnost kao osobinu. Ukratko su raspravljeni mogući izvori nekonzistentnosti rezultata eksperimentalnih istraživanja odnosa osnovnih emocija i promjena u RSA, kao što su zanemarivanje uloge kognitivnih procesa i tjelesne aktivnosti, te su ponuđena neka metodološka rješenja za uklanjanje nedostataka dosadašnjih istraživanja.Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), which is considered to reflect parasympathetic activity, has received an increased scientific interest during the last several decades. Research on RSA in psychophysiology was especially focused on its relationship with the emotional process and related individual differences. This contribution starts with a short description of parasympathetic nervous system function and its influences on heart activity. This is followed by the description of the Polyvagal Theory and the model of neurovisceral integration, which represent a broad framework for an understanding of the relations between parasympathetic activity, workings of the central nervous system functions, cognitive processes, and emotional reactions. After a brief explanation of the way the RSA is typically measured, a short overview of experimental research directed to RSA changes that accompany emotional reactions and correlational research of the relations between baseline measures of RSA and emotional traits is presented. This research shows that different hypotheses derived from the Polyvagal theory and the Model of neurovisceral integration are confirmed primarily in the context of vagal withdrawal and decreased vagal tone that are related to stress reactions, emotion of fear and trait anxiety, and to a lesser extent to trait hostility. The final section includes a brief discussion on the sources of inconsistency in the results of experimental research of relations between basic emotions and RSA changes, such as the neglected role of cognitive processes and somatic activity.La arritmia sinusal respiratoria (ASR) se considera indicador de la activación parasimpática y en las últimas décadas se investigaban las relaciones entre sus valores principales y la dinámica por una parte, y por otra los diferentes procesos cognitivos y emocionales y los rasgos de personalidad con ellos relacionados. En este trabajo se enumeran en breve las funciones generales del parasimpático y se explica la manera en la que la activación de esta rama del sistema nervioso autónomo se refleja en la actividad del corazón. Se describen la Teoría polivagal y el Modelo de integración neurovisceral que representan el marco para entender la relación entre la activación parasimpática y la actividad del sistema nervioso central, tanto como la relación entre la ASR y los procesos cognitivos y emocionales. Después de explicar la manera en la que normalmente se mide la ASR, se discuten problemas metodológicos actuales en la investigación de la ASR en contexto de procesos cognitivos, acentuando las dificultades para tratar de diferenciar los efectos de diferentes ejercicios cognitivos y la actividad corporal de los efectos de respuestas emocionales. Finalmente, se presenta una revisión breve de las investigaciones experimentales enfocadas en los cambios en la ASR que siguen las reacciones emocionales e investigaciones correlacionales que conectan los valores básicos de la ASR y la reactividad en la ASR con las características emocionalmente definidas de los individuos. Las previsiones diferentes que proceden de la Teoría polivagal y el Modelo de integración neurovisceral se han confirmado en primer lugar cuando se trata de la retirada vagal y tono vagal reducido, que se relacionan con las reacciones de estrés, emoción de miedo y ansiedad como característica, y en menor medida con la hostilidad como característica. En breve se discuten posibles fuentes de inconsistencia de los resultados de investigaciones experimentales de la conexión entre las emociones básicas y los cambios en la ASR, como la negligencia del papel de procesos cognitivos y la actividad corporal, y se ofrecen algunas soluciones metodológicas para eliminar los defectos de las investigaciones anteriores

Affective, cognitive, social and health consequences of emotional suppression

Emocionalna supresija je oblik regulacije emocija koji je usmjeren na inhibiranje emocionalnog ponašanja. Ona se odvija nakon pokretanja emocionalnog programa, odnosno nakon aktiviranja ponašajnih tendencija. U radu su pojašnjene sličnosti i razlike između supresije i nedovoljno razlikovanih koncepata poput emocionalne inhibicije, represije i ekspresivnosti. Naglašeni su nedostaci korelacijskih istraživanja posljedica supresije među kojima su najvažniji loša konstruktna valjanost mjernih instrumenata i izostanak kontroliranja temeljnih osobina ličnosti koje bi se mogle nalaziti u podlozi sklonosti k supresiji i varijabli koje s njome koreliraju. Navedeni su rezultati najnovijih istraživanja koji pokazuju da supresija negativno djeluje na psihološku dobrobit pojedinca, u skladu s čime su i podaci o njezinom nepoželjnom djelovanju na afektivno, socijalno i kognitivno funkcioniranje. Paralelno su s time predloženi mehanizmi koji bi mogli dovoditi do uočenih efekata. Poseban je dio rada posvećen zdravstvenim posljedicama supresije. Iako se na osnovu rezultata većine korelacijskih istraživanja može pretpostaviti da supresija dovodi do nepoželjnih zdravstvenih ishoda, ona ne omogućavaju detaljno razumijevanje takvog odnosa. Na sreću, područje istraživanja regulacije emocija obogaćeno je nizom eksperimentalnih istraživanja akutnih posljedica supresije koja upućuju na to da bi specifični obrasci fiziološke aktivacije mogli biti poveznica između ovog načina regulacije emocija i različitih zdravstvenih ishoda. U posljednjem je dijelu rada naglašena važnost funkcionalnog razlikovanja primarnih emocija i ispitivanja utjecaja osobina ličnosti u budućim istraživanjima supresije.Emotional suppression is a form of emotional regulation which is directed to the inhibition of emotional behavior. It usually happens after an emotional program has been activated and after behavioral tendencies have been triggered. Similarities and differences between suppression and concepts that do not differ enough, such as emotional inhibition, repression and expressivity are explained. Special attention is directed to the limitations of correlational studies examining the consequences of suppression, the most important of which are the poor constructive validity of its measurement and lack of control for basic personality traits which could be the basis of both susceptibility to suppression and its covariates. Recent research results show that suppression has negative impact on psychological well-being, which is consistent with data about its negative effects on affective, social and cognitive functioning. In this light, the mechanisms which could lead to observed effects are proposed. Part of this review is dedicated to the health consequences of suppression. Although the majority of the results of correlational studies allow assumptions that suppression leads to undesirable consequences for health, they do not provide detailed insight into these relations. Fortunately, the field of emotion regulation has been enriched with a line of experimental research on the acute consequences of suppression which suggests that specific patterns of physiological activation could form a link between this form of emotional regulation and different health outcomes. The last part of the review is focused on the importance of the functional discrimination of primary emotions and on the importance of searching for the effects of personality traits

Affective, cognitive, social and health consequences of emotional suppression

Emocionalna supresija je oblik regulacije emocija koji je usmjeren na inhibiranje emocionalnog ponašanja. Ona se odvija nakon pokretanja emocionalnog programa, odnosno nakon aktiviranja ponašajnih tendencija. U radu su pojašnjene sličnosti i razlike između supresije i nedovoljno razlikovanih koncepata poput emocionalne inhibicije, represije i ekspresivnosti. Naglašeni su nedostaci korelacijskih istraživanja posljedica supresije među kojima su najvažniji loša konstruktna valjanost mjernih instrumenata i izostanak kontroliranja temeljnih osobina ličnosti koje bi se mogle nalaziti u podlozi sklonosti k supresiji i varijabli koje s njome koreliraju. Navedeni su rezultati najnovijih istraživanja koji pokazuju da supresija negativno djeluje na psihološku dobrobit pojedinca, u skladu s čime su i podaci o njezinom nepoželjnom djelovanju na afektivno, socijalno i kognitivno funkcioniranje. Paralelno su s time predloženi mehanizmi koji bi mogli dovoditi do uočenih efekata. Poseban je dio rada posvećen zdravstvenim posljedicama supresije. Iako se na osnovu rezultata većine korelacijskih istraživanja može pretpostaviti da supresija dovodi do nepoželjnih zdravstvenih ishoda, ona ne omogućavaju detaljno razumijevanje takvog odnosa. Na sreću, područje istraživanja regulacije emocija obogaćeno je nizom eksperimentalnih istraživanja akutnih posljedica supresije koja upućuju na to da bi specifični obrasci fiziološke aktivacije mogli biti poveznica između ovog načina regulacije emocija i različitih zdravstvenih ishoda. U posljednjem je dijelu rada naglašena važnost funkcionalnog razlikovanja primarnih emocija i ispitivanja utjecaja osobina ličnosti u budućim istraživanjima supresije.Emotional suppression is a form of emotional regulation which is directed to the inhibition of emotional behavior. It usually happens after an emotional program has been activated and after behavioral tendencies have been triggered. Similarities and differences between suppression and concepts that do not differ enough, such as emotional inhibition, repression and expressivity are explained. Special attention is directed to the limitations of correlational studies examining the consequences of suppression, the most important of which are the poor constructive validity of its measurement and lack of control for basic personality traits which could be the basis of both susceptibility to suppression and its covariates. Recent research results show that suppression has negative impact on psychological well-being, which is consistent with data about its negative effects on affective, social and cognitive functioning. In this light, the mechanisms which could lead to observed effects are proposed. Part of this review is dedicated to the health consequences of suppression. Although the majority of the results of correlational studies allow assumptions that suppression leads to undesirable consequences for health, they do not provide detailed insight into these relations. Fortunately, the field of emotion regulation has been enriched with a line of experimental research on the acute consequences of suppression which suggests that specific patterns of physiological activation could form a link between this form of emotional regulation and different health outcomes. The last part of the review is focused on the importance of the functional discrimination of primary emotions and on the importance of searching for the effects of personality traits

Blue-Eyed Men Prefer Blue-Eyed Women: The Role of Life History Strategies and Sociosexuality

Previous research (Laeng et al., 2007) conducted on Norwegian samples showed that blue-eyed men rate blue-eyed women as more attractive, while brown-eyed men and all the women show no differences in attractiveness assessments with respect to eye colour. Correspondingly, positive assortative mating was found for blue, but not brown eyes, and it most often occurred in blue-eyed men. We aimed to replicate this blue-like-blue effect in the Croatian population, which differs in the ratio of eye colour phenotypes (blue eye colour is the most prevalent in Norway while brown is the most prevalent in Croatia). Additionally, we examined whether this effect is moderated by life history strategies and sociosexuality. Our hypothesis was that the effect would be larger in those blue-eyed men who exert a slower life history strategy and who are sociosexually restrictive. One hundred and twenty-eight participants assessed the attractiveness of blue-eyed and brown-eyed models, whose eye colours were experimentally manipulated in such a way that participants were shown models with natural or artificially changed eye colours. The blue-like-blue effect was replicated in the context of preferences, although it was smaller than in the original study. However, unlike the original study, in a sample of 138 participants no assortative pairing by eye colour was found between participants and their romantic partners. Finally, the hypothesis about the moderation was supported for life history strategies, but not for sociosexuality. In addition to the rationale for the blue-like-blue effect based on the paternity uncertainty account, which was offered by the authors of the original study, we discussed other accounts of this phenomenon

Blue-Eyed Men Prefer Blue-Eyed Women: The Role of Life History Strategies and Sociosexuality

Previous research (Laeng et al., 2007) conducted on Norwegian samples showed that blue-eyed men rate blue-eyed women as more attractive, while brown-eyed men and all the women show no differences in attractiveness assessments with respect to eye colour. Correspondingly, positive assortative mating was found for blue, but not brown eyes, and it most often occurred in blue-eyed men. We aimed to replicate this blue-like-blue effect in the Croatian population, which differs in the ratio of eye colour phenotypes (blue eye colour is the most prevalent in Norway while brown is the most prevalent in Croatia). Additionally, we examined whether this effect is moderated by life history strategies and sociosexuality. Our hypothesis was that the effect would be larger in those blue-eyed men who exert a slower life history strategy and who are sociosexually restrictive. One hundred and twenty-eight participants assessed the attractiveness of blue-eyed and brown-eyed models, whose eye colours were experimentally manipulated in such a way that participants were shown models with natural or artificially changed eye colours. The blue-like-blue effect was replicated in the context of preferences, although it was smaller than in the original study. However, unlike the original study, in a sample of 138 participants no assortative pairing by eye colour was found between participants and their romantic partners. Finally, the hypothesis about the moderation was supported for life history strategies, but not for sociosexuality. In addition to the rationale for the blue-like-blue effect based on the paternity uncertainty account, which was offered by the authors of the original study, we discussed other accounts of this phenomenon

Evaluacija programa razvijanja poduzetničkih sposobnosti mladih: Kreativno-edukativna škola za mlade poduzetnike (KEŠ)

Učenje i razvoj poduzetničkih kompetencija uvršteno je u strateške dokumente za razvoj obrazovanja i poduzetništva u Republici Hrvatskoj, pri čemu se nameće potreba za postojanjem cjelovitog programa učenja poduzetništva i poduzetničkih vještina od najnižih razina obrazovanja. Kreativno-edukativnaškola za mlade poduzetnike KEŠ provodi se kao cjeloviti program među učenicima sedmih i osmih razreda koji pohađaju osnovne škole Grada Rijeke. Evaluacija programa pokazala je kako je KEŠ ostvario većinu svojih ciljeva. Program je ostvario pozitivan efekt kod polaznika na faktorima koji se podrazumijevaju kao osnovne poduzetničke karakteristike: nekonvencionalnosti i kreativnosti, poduzetničke samoefikasnosti, stavovima i zainteresiranosti zapoduzetništvo te samoprocjenjenom znanju o poduzetništvu

Sociosexuality and Mate Retention in Romantic Couples

On a sample of 191 romantic couples the relations between mate retention strategies of one partner in the pair and sociosexuality of the other was examined. Mate retention strategies were measured by using self-reports, while sociosexuality was measured by self-report, as well as partner’s report. The results show that mate retention tactics, categories and domains are mainly positively related to both measures of partners’ sociosexuality in men and women, and particularly perceived sociosexuality of one’s partner. The results also show that relations between the overall frequency in the use of mate retention acts and partners’ sociosexuality do not differ between men and women. However, consistent differences in the relations between sociosexuality and mate retention strategies in men and women were obtained. When their partners are higher on sociosexuality women are more inclined to use intersexual manipulations, while men are more prone to intrasexual manipulations