Abstract
It was hypothesized that demand characteristics are responsible for relations between heat and hostility in laboratory experiments. This hypothesis was tested by leading 28 males and 28 females to believe that heat would have either positive or negative effects and then exposing them to either moderately or very high temperatures. As hypothesized, the subjects who were led to expect negative effects from heat exposure expressed more hostility and evidenced less positive affect than those who were led to expect positive effects. In addition, higher levels of secretory immuno-globulin A were found in the saliva of the males when heat was portrayed in threatening rather than beneficial terms.
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This research was supported by a faculty development grant to the third author from Florida International University. We would like to thank Ray Galleno, Michael Glixman, Lynn Herndon, Kathy Sardinhia, and Doris Wainwright for their assistance in collecting data.
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Dubitsky, S., Weber, R. & Rotton, J. Heat, hostility, and immune function: The moderating effects of gender and demand characteristics. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 31, 534–536 (1993). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03337345
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03337345