Browsing by Author "Skinner, William Claude"

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    The influence of progressive relaxation on physiological arousal in a perceived risk situation
    (1995) Skinner, William Claude; Edwards, S.D.
    Activities in which people perceive risk, arouses a certain measure of anxiety. The heightened anxiety level becomes pathological if it overcomes the natural coping abilities of a person for an extended period of time. In this study a perceived risk situation was created in which heightened physiological arousal was induced, observed and managed. Direct signs of heightened physiological arousal were observed by monitoring changes in heartbeat, skin temperature, skin conductance, electromyographic activity and blood volume pulse using a biofeedback system. The 11 member experimental group were introduced to a three day progressive relaxation training programme prior to participating in the stationary perceived risk activity. The experimental group experienced a lowering of sympathetic nervous system arousal, supported by the measurement of significant changes of physiological symptoms during the brief anxiety' eliciting situation. Results were statistically compared with an 11 member control group which received no relaxation training. Significant changes in heart rate, skin conductance and blood volume pulse measured on subjects of the experimental, group supported the hypothesis that a progressive relaxation training programme therapeutically changes physiological arousal.