Download - Class 4 Symptoms
“A physical symptom or sensation is a perception, feeling, or even belief about the state of our body. (It)… is often—but not always—based on physiological activity. Above all, a physical symptom or sensation represents information about internal state.”
Pennebaker, 1983, p.1.
Symptom Defined
Functions of Symptoms
Sign that problem exists
Provide clues to nature of problem
Locate problem
Provide means to inform others of problem
Provide clues how to treat/respond
to problem
Why do we have symptoms?
1. How do we first notice symptoms? How do we know that a symptom is “happening”?
2. How do our beliefs about illness and our own bodies affect the way we interpret symptoms?
3. How well do perceived symptoms match up with actual physical states?
4. How do people categorize symptoms?
5. How do people differ in the ways that they report on symptoms?
The Psychology of Symptoms: Main Questions
Labeling Symptoms
Shortness of breath means?
Tense muscles makes you think of?
"Dr., I have shortness of breath and muscle tension" could mean:
Slow, labored breathing Rapid/shallow breathing
Tense back, chest Tense shoulders, legs
Slow, labored breathing Rapid/shallow breathing
Tense shoulders, legs Tense back, chest
____slow/labored ____rapid/shallow
___Back ___Shoulders ___Chest ____Legs
Ways that People Differ in Symptom ReportingPsychological
Emotionality
Coping style
Demographics
Age
Sex
Marital status
Residential status
Occupational status
SES
Race and culture
Symptom Reporting: Number of, Attention to Symptoms
Rates of symptom reporting could be due to:
____ Numbers of actual symptoms
____ Differential attention to symptoms
____ Number & AttentionX
X
X
Conditions of Perception
Limited capacity to process information
Info exists inside and outside person.
Perception can be both passive and active
Elements of Perception 1. Orienting: Does cue (event/sensation) get our attention
Unique? Complex? Mobile? 2. Schemas: Expectations, pre-set ways of understanding events.
3. Inference: Drawing conclusions from available information
Schemas and SymptomsSchema: Concept or framework that helps interpret or organize information.
House tour as a: RealtorBurglar Recall?
PMS and expectations of PMS symptoms (Ruble, 1972)
Women know about PMS and associated symptoms
Women told period due in 2 days or in 10 days – in fact, all due in 7 days.
All women asked “To what extent are you currently experiencing PMS?”
Result? Women told period starts in 2 days report more current PMS symptoms
Inference and Symptoms: Combining Orientation and Schemas
Inference: Drawing conclusion from symptoms, as guided by schemas.
I have a slight headache =
Got new glasses; told might induce headache =
I probably have a headache b/c of new glasses =
Orientation
Schema
Inference
Key terms: Inference, Orientation, Schema
Schema? Orientation? Inference?
Symptom Reporting and Competition of CuesPennebaker
Symptom perception = perception in general. Same processes.
Orienting, Schemas, Inferences
Limited information processing capacity.
Perception is both passive and active.
Info exists inside and outside organism; all info (internal and external) used to understand events.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo
Person's Plans, Expectations
(D. Simons)
Cue Salience
(A. Triesman)
Person's Physical State
(D. Proffitt)
Perception is Driven By:
Pennebaker Symptom and Exercise Studies
How does attending to internal cues or external cues affect feelings of exertion during exercise?
Prediction: Exercise with fewer external distracters will lead to more attention to internal cues.
Symptom reporting is a function of (Internal Cues) ÷ (External Cues)
Procedure Subjects all run same distance: oval track OR cross-country
Predictions All Ss run same speed, but those on oval / x-country report more symptoms, OR
All Ss report same symptoms, but oval / x-country run faster.
Result? x-country run faster (9.2 min v. 10.1 min) no symptom diff
Phase I No Sound No Sound No Sound
Phase 2 Breathing Street No Sound
Pennebaker Treadmill Study DesignProblem with running study: did pace really differ b/c of attention to internal v. external cues?
Treadmill study done to address this problem
Ss run on treadmill, which keeps time and effort: constant
Ss wear headphone, playing either:
a. Themselves breathing b. Street sounds c. Nothing at all
Pennebaker Treadmill Study Results
15
20
25
30
35
40
Day 1:Baserate
Day 2:Conditions
Mea
n S
ymp
tom
Rep
ort
ing
Breathing
Control
Sounds
Conclusion: when exertion is held constant, Ss become more / less aware of their own physiological state.
Key Take Home Points from Running and Treadmill Studies
No diffs. in NUMBER of symptoms reported, only in how much symptoms were noticed. This supports / doesn't support Pennebaker?
Relevance of Pennebaker to health/physical symptoms. Who has more health complaints?
___ Depressed ___ Non-Depressed
___ Work/live alone ___ Work/live with few others
Do professional athletes distract from / attend to internal states?
___ Distract ___ Attend
X
X
X
Purpose: Can external cues distract people from internal reflex?
Ss see movie. Portions of movie pre-rated for interestingness.
Researchers count number of coughs at each 30 sec. portion.
Coughing Study
Predict? Fewer coughs at more interesting moments.
Correlation of coughs to interestingness = -.57.Result
Purpose: Do we need time to register threatening events as upsetting?
Ss watch 5 min. shop safety film, finger chopped off by machine.Version 1. 0 sec. time gap between gory scene and next sceneVersion 2. 3 sec gap, time to reflectVersion 3. 8 sec gap, even more time to reflect
Warning vs. no warning conditionsHalf subs warned that about gory sceneHalf subs not warned.
Emotion Dead-time Study
No Warning 0 second gap 3 second gap 8 second gap
Warning 0 second gap 3 second gap 8 second gap
Emotion Dead-time Study
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 secdelay
3 secdelay
8 secdelay
Up
sett
ing
nes
s o
f M
ovi
e
No Warning
Warning
Can we have symptoms that we feel, but subconsciously?
Small balloon inserted into small intestine.
Balloon inflated, EEG (cortex) is monitored
Ss asked if they feel anything. Say "Nope", butEEG rises and falls with balloon inflation
People can be trained to detect balloon inflation
Unconscious Awareness of Symptoms(Adams, 1980)
EEG: Electroencephalogram
Ss work on treadmill, get physically worked-up.
Ss rate how much they favor/disfavor politicians.
Ss rate either:Group 1. Immediately after treadmillGroup 2. 10 min. after treadmillGroup 3. 20 min. after treadmill
Which Group rates politicians most extremely?
Do Symptoms Affect Opinions?Dolf Zillman
Group 2: still aroused, but not conscious of own arousal.
Time of Rating After Exertion
Immediate 5-10 minutes 15 minutes
Arousal Level
Much Higher, Evident
Higher, but not Evident
Low (baseline)
Nature of Rating
Moderate Extreme Moderate
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3
Do Symptoms Affect Opinions?Dolf Zillman
Symptoms, Misattribution, and Attraction
Which is the better movie to
induce romantic attraction?
____ Love Conquers All
____ The Rollercoaster From Hell
____ Harvey the Happy Hamster
X
Swinging bridge study (Dutton & Aron,1974)
1. Male Ss cross / don't cross scary bridge
2. Ss then complete TAT cards with pretty experimenter.
3. Ss rate cards as more sexual if cross bridge. Why?
4. Ss more likely to phone experimenter for debriefing if crossed bridge.