The topic of stress, emotions, and their impact on health could not have been more timely. As the end of the semester quickly approaches, stressors are unusually high and many may be finding their emotional thresholds to be wearing thin. However, if you have been able to overcome this emotion/stressed induced paralysis enough to process this weeks readings, you may find yourself armed with a useful understanding of how psychological and social factors affect the way we perceive things and ultimately our health.
Stressors that are for the most part universal are not necessarily interpreted in a universal manner. A specific stressor can induce different types of negative emotions from fear to anger to disgust. The study described in the article “Facial Expressions of Emoition Reveal Neuroendocrine and Cardiovascular Stress Responses” demonstrated that a stressor can evoke different physiological changes depending on how the stressor is perceived. Subjects in this experiment were given stress-inducing tasks. Their facial behavior (expression of emotion) was recorded and assessed using the EMFACS Facial Action Coding System. In order to test for physiological correlates of the stress induced emotions, data regarding the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis (by measuring cortisol levels in saliva) and cardiovascular activity were collected. As the authors predicted, the greater the individual’s facial response was of fear, the greater was the HPA axis and cardiovascular activity. Conversely (this is the part that may be of particular use this time of the year), HPA axis and cardiovascular activity decreased in the individuals that expressed anger or disgust in response to the stressors. In their discussion the authors suggested a future study investigating a possible relationship between facial muscles and the stress response system.
Although through a different approach, the article on facial feedback and race bias (which happened to be published around the same time) actually considers the relationship between facial muscle activation/motor processes and the way on evaluates a stimulus. The researchers sought to understand if different physical conditions could effect one’s evaluation of a stimulus. A very creative and impressive approach was taken to test their hypothesis. Throughout the process, subjects held a pencil between their teeth without letting their lips touch the pencil. Unknowingly to the subjects, holding the pencil in this way forced a smile. Using the concept of ‘the spreading attitude affect’ the subjects were indirectly conditioned. Ultimately, this study demonstrated that certain motor process associated with emotion and affect (i.e. smiling) can influence the way an individual will evaluate a stimulus. I am unsure why they researchers chose to use racial bias to show that we can be indirectly conditioned to assign new meaning on a categorical level. Are they suggesting that we should condition people to overcome racial bias?
The article on socioeconomic status (SES) and health provides another perspective on the relationship between physical state, stress, and health. There is a strong correlation between SES and health throughout the entire spectrum. The authors discuss factors that seem to influence this gradient. In this regard, I found the article to be a bit outdated. (The most recent article in their bibliography was from 1993 and I think our understanding of that factors are a bit different now.) The studies they used to identify a relationship between SES and health considered level of education and level of occupation, but did not take into account lifestyle variables that may accompany occupation (stress, time demands of job, effort reward imbalance, high demands and low control, adverse psychosocial environments –it is understandable how such conditions could induce a state of chronic stress and ultimately take a toll on ones mental/physical health). A number of issues that seem to be critically influential factors in this gradient were not mentioned, or only mentioned as suggestions for the future.
As the article on facial expression and emotion demonstrated a stressor can be perceived in multiple ways, and some ways may be healthier than others. I have spent this semester fixated on the concept of emotion regulation (or controlling one’s emotions). It can be very difficult to maintain a sense of reason when the stressors pile up, so remember, control your anger (and by control I mean make sure you respond with anger, not fear) it is healthier for you…
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I found the article, “The Influence of Facial Feedback on Race Bias” to be particularly interesting. As we have learned this semester, emotional states involve bodily reactions. This article asked whether manipulating a bodily response could affect an emotional response. And, interestingly, it can.
This reminded me so much of a ballet class I took here in my sophomore year. At the time I was struggling with a particular move, and would tense up whenever it came to a double turn. My teacher noticed this physical tension in my shoulders, and especially in my face. Apparently, I looked as if a bear were charging at me. My teacher gave me some great advice, and told me to smile—as large as possible— whenever I came to that turn. I was shocked to notice that it made an enormous difference in my body (I became much less tense) and in my attitude.
The link between emotion and reaction can be, to some extent, consciously manipulated. And I thought this article tested this in an interesting way.
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