Physiological Reactivity to Responsive and Unresponsive Children as Moderated by Perceived Control

Abstract

80 undergraduate women, pretested on the Parent Attribution Test (PAT), watched videotapes of responsive and unresponsive children in anticipation of subsequent interaction with them. Physiological measures (heart rate, skin temperature, and skin conductance) were monitored as subjects viewed videotapes and during a postinterview. Subjects who perceived caregiving failure as uncontrollable (on the PAT) were significantly more reactive to variations in child responsiveness than were those who perceived failure as controllable. The highest level of arousal (elevated heart rate and skin conductance) was manifested by "low-control" women anticipating interaction with unresponsive children. The increased arousal level shown in reaction to unresponsive children was accompanied by decreased skin temperature--suggesting the presence of fear or anxiety. Results were interpreted as indicating the importance of social cognitions as moderators of caregiver response to child behavior.