Electrodes don’t lie and neither do facial muscles. If you are happy, the electrodes will know it.
University doctoral student Keith Harris is conducting an innovative research project that aims to find out how married couples support each other in times of emotional stress by using electrodes to measure physiological arousal.
Psychologists know that a supportive social setting is good for health, but it is less clear why. The negative effects that conflict has on people — changes in blood pressure and heart rate — have been studied in the past. What is unique about Harris’ project is that he is looking at the positive effects couples can have on each other when in an argumentative or stressful setting.
With little research done on the positive effects of social support, this is the first study looking at the way married couples support each other in stressful situations.
“We’re studying the things that couples do that get each other riled up and calmed down,” Harris said.
He predicts measurable differences in heart rate, blood pressure and physiological arousal that can help show how stressful situations can aid couples in learning about their relationships and be better able to support each other at these times, eventually leading to higher satisfaction in the marriage.
Angela Hong, a residential designer, and her husband Nick met with Harris to examine their relationship.
“Participation in the study was great for increasing awareness of each other,” Angela Hong said.
The whole process takes about two to three hours beginning with a 26-item questionnaire. Couples rate their relationship in areas that can cause arguments, such as sex, money and household chores.
The area in which the couple experiences the most conflict is then selected and the couples are instructed to have a discussion with the goal of solving that problem on video.
Sherrie Brunell-Neuleib and her husband, Greg Neuleib, talked about household chores during their taped discussion.
“Greg and I both left there feeling pretty good,” she said. “We had solved our household chore problem, and we felt energized about our marriage.”
After completing about half of the field work for this experiment, Harris is surprised with the effects the research has had on the couples.
“Couples have told me that once they sign up for the study, it changes the nature of their conversations,” Harris said.
After completing the study, couples have reported feeling as though they see their relationship through new lenses.
“I learned several things about myself and my relationship,” Brunell-Neuleib said. “Watching yourself on the videotape can be very strange.”
After the videotaped problem-solving portion of the study, Harris talks to each individual of the couple separately about what brings him or her the most stress in the relationship.
Before and after each interview, Harris’ team checks the blood pressure and heart rates of the subject. Their skin conductivity — in lay terms, “sweaty palms” — are also monitored through the whole process.
After the interviews, his research assistants attach electrodes to the subjects’ faces and a computer monitors their muscles as they watch the video of their interaction. The couple watches the tape together and holds a dial on which they indicate how supported or supportive he or she feels throughout the tape.
Though Harris is conducting what is called a “convenience” study, meaning he is not actively seeking to represent the demographics of the city, greater diversity in participants would make the results more accurate.
Each couple will receive $25 for its participation. Keith Harris will be running couples through the experiment through the end of the term, and those wishing to participate may contact him at 346-4964.
“Whatever time you can put toward productively talking about conflict with each other, or with work or school, is investing in your relationship,” Nick Hong said.
“Plus, there’s money involved,” he added. “It’s a nice dinner for two.”
Marriage under the microscope
Daily Emerald
April 16, 2000
Catharine Kendall Emerald
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