Interpersonal Psychophysiology and the Study of the Family

1. Interpersonal Psychophysiology and the Study of the Family Wagner, H. L., & Calam, R. M. (1988). Interpersonal psychophysiology and the study of the family. In H. L. Wagner (Ed.), Social psychophysiology and emotion: Theory and clinical applications (pp. 211-229). New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

2. Introduction • Definition of interpersonal psychophysiology: simultaneous measurement of physiological arousal from two or more persons engaged in social interaction. • At the time of the writing, Wagner and Calam (1988) warned that physiological research was expensive and time-consuming. The expense has decreases in recent years, but the approach is time-consuming. Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson

3. Interpersonal Psychophysiology and Emotion • Results from a series of studies of psychotherapy process suggested that there was physiological arousal of client and therapist covaried, but the covariation was not consistent throughout the session. • Times when covariation was low were associated with therapist reported that s/he was preoccupied. • Heart rate covariation seemed to be associated during interactions described as “meaningful.” • Empathy does not seem to be a “state” but is experienced as a series of discrete events. Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson

4. Interpersonal Psychophysiology and Married Couples • Gottman (1979) reviewed research on patterns of affective exchange. • Distressed couples show more negative affect, more negative reciprocal affect, and more affective asymmetry (discrepancy between affective experience). • Gottman hypothesized that physiological covariation would affect relationship satisfaction. • Gottman’s Research Design: • Chose physiological parameters that reflected sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. • Couples were recorded as they participated in high and low-conflict discussions. • Physiological arousal was also measured as the participant watched the videotaped interaction. Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson

5. Interpersonal Psychophysiology and Married Couples (cont.) • Gottman’s Results: • High conflict discussions were significant predictors of relationship satisfaction. Low conflict discussions were not significant predictors of relationship satisfaction. • Fifty-nine percent of the variation in relationship satisfaction was associated with physiological covariation between the couple. • Physiological measures were significant predictors of relationship satisfaction three years later. Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson

6. The Family as a System • Gottman’s results seem to support aspects of family systems theory (e.g., effect of type of conversation on physiological arousal; influence of covariation physiological arousal between partners). • Methodological need: development of protocol for measuring more than two family members, especially methods to measure children that are not influenced by lab setting. Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson