ABSTRACT
Some of the research discussed in this chapter has implications for understanding factors that can impact the development of cardiovascular disease. Both scientific and popular media continually report on the role of cardiovascular disease as a leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. In addition to this practical consideration, the current chapter examines basic questions about behavior, such as whether differential heart activity occurs in various emotional situations. It also covers the effects of stress, motivational state, personality, and social factors on changes in heart rate. Cardiovascular reactivity (CVR), or how much of a change in HR occurs from baseline to a task situation, is another important aspect examined in this chapter. Questions about interactions between heart and brain activity and the classical and instrumental conditioning of cardiac activity are also reviewed. We start with a consideration of stress, anger, frustration, and fear as “affective” processes.
