NCJ Number
62830
Journal
Corrective and Social Psychiatry and Journal of Behavior Technology Methods and Therapy Volume: 25 Issue: 4 Dated: (1979) Pages: 119-124
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM A STUDY DESIGNED TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTS AND OPTIMAL METHODS OF PROMOTING SKIN TEMPERATURE INCREASES IN MALE INMATES WITH A VIEW TOWARD REDUCING INMATE ANXIETY.
Abstract
BOUDEWYNS (1976) INDICATES THAT SKIN TEMPERATURE IS A RELIABLE INDICATOR OF EMOTIONAL AROUSAL, WITH SKIN TEMPERATURE DECREASING UNDER STRESS CONDITIONS AND INCREASING WHEN THE SUBJECT IS RELAXED. FOR TESTING PURPOSES, 60 MALE PRISONERS FROM A FEDERAL INSTITUTION WERE SELECTED ON THE BASIS OF THEIR HIGH AROUSAL LEVELS. ONLY THOSE WHO VOLUNTARILY AGREED TO PARTICIPATE IN TWO TRAINING SESSIONS WERE USED AS SUBJECTS. SIX EXPERIMENTAL GROUPS WERE FORMED, WITH EACH USING A DIFFERENT METHOD FOR ATTEMPTING TO INCREASE SKIN TEMPERATURE: (1) DIRECT INSTRUCTION, (2) DIRECT INSTRUCTION PLUS SKIN TEMPERATURE FEEDBACK, (3) RELAXATION TRAINING, (4) RELAXATION TRAINING PLUS FEEDBACK, (5) AUTOGENIC SUGGESTION, AND (6) AUTOGENIC SUGGESTION PLUS FEEDBACK. A FEEDBACK THERMOMETER WAS USED TO MEASURE ABSOLUTE TEMPERATURE AT THE SKIN SITE IN TENTHS OF ONE DEGREE FAHRENHEIT. SELF-REPORT MEASURES OF ANXIETY OR TENSION WERE OBTAINED IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO THE STUDY BY REINKING AND KOHL (1975). RESULTS INDICATE THAT INCREASING SKIN TEMPERATURE IS POSSIBLE WITHIN A PRISON POPULATION. BOTH HIGH AND LOW TEMPERATURE BASELINE GROUPS SHOWED SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN SKIN TEMPERATURE. SUBJECTS IN BOTH THE RELAXATION TRAINING AND AUTOGENIC SUGGESTION GROUPS REPORTED SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER ANXIETY-TENSION REDUCTIONS IN THE FIRST SESSION THAN SUBJECTS IN THE DIRECT INSTRUCTION GROUPS. FINALLY, SIGNIFICANT SKIN TEMPERATURE CHANGES DID NOT OCCUR FROM EITHER FEEDBACK OR INSTRUCTIONAL SETS. FURTHER RESEARCH IN PRISON POPULATIONS IS NEEDED. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.