Cynical hostility influences anger, but not cardiovascular reactivity during competition with harassment. 1995

G Felsten
Department of Psychology, Indiana University - Purdue University Columbus 47203, USA.

Cynical hostility has been linked to coronary heart disease (CHD), and there is mixed support for the hypothesis that cynical hostility may contribute to CHD through exaggerated cardiovascular responses to anger-provoking stressors. The present study tested the influences of cynical hostility on affective and cardiovascular responses to provocation in 68 undergraduate men. Subjects were divided into high and low cynical hostility groups by a median split on Cook-Medley Hostility Scale scores, and half of the subjects in each group were harassed during competition on a video game. High hostile subjects reported greater anger than low hostile subjects during the competition, independently of harassment, and harassment produced stronger feelings of mistreatment, independently of hostility. Harassed subjects experienced larger systolic blood pressure responses only during an affect rating period after the competition, but the responses were not influenced by hostility. These findings provide further evidence that cynical hostility, anger, and cardiovascular reactivity are not simply nor consistently related.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D001794 Blood Pressure PRESSURE of the BLOOD on the ARTERIES and other BLOOD VESSELS. Systolic Pressure,Diastolic Pressure,Pulse Pressure,Pressure, Blood,Pressure, Diastolic,Pressure, Pulse,Pressure, Systolic,Pressures, Systolic
D003163 Competitive Behavior The direct struggle between individuals for environmental necessities or for a common goal. Behavior, Competitive,Behaviors, Competitive,Competitive Behaviors
D005639 Frustration The motivational and/or affective state resulting from being blocked, thwarted, disappointed or defeated. Frustrations
D006339 Heart Rate The number of times the HEART VENTRICLES contract per unit of time, usually per minute. Cardiac Rate,Chronotropism, Cardiac,Heart Rate Control,Heartbeat,Pulse Rate,Cardiac Chronotropy,Cardiac Chronotropism,Cardiac Rates,Chronotropy, Cardiac,Control, Heart Rate,Heart Rates,Heartbeats,Pulse Rates,Rate Control, Heart,Rate, Cardiac,Rate, Heart,Rate, Pulse
D006439 Hemodynamics The movement and the forces involved in the movement of the blood through the CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM. Hemodynamic
D006791 Hostility Tendency to feel anger toward and to seek to inflict harm upon a person or group. Hostilities
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000786 Anger A strong emotional feeling of displeasure aroused by being interfered with, injured or threatened. Angers

Related Publications

G Felsten
January 1995, Psychotherapy and psychosomatics,
G Felsten
April 1996, Journal of psychosomatic research,
G Felsten
May 1996, Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association,
G Felsten
January 1987, Journal of psychosomatic research,
G Felsten
June 2009, International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!