The Psychophysiological Differentiation of Actual, Imagined, and Recollected Anger

Abstract

Heart rate and skin resistance responses from thirty-six participants (5 men and 31 women) were recorded to determine if significant differences exist among three different types of inducing anger including the present state of anger (Actual Anger), anger elicited through imagination (Imagined Anger), and anger elicited through recollection (Recollected Anger). An analysis of variance indicated significant differences for heart rate among the three methods, F(2,35) = 8.75, p = .0009, but not for skin resistance, F(2,35) = 1.298, p = .287. However, contrary to the hypotheses forwarded, both Imagined and Recollected Anger generated significantly higher heart rate responses than Actual Anger. Implications of these findings and a theoretical framework for interpretation are both presented.