Psychophysiological effects of emotional dissonance in a face-to-face service interaction

Abstract

Current research demonstrates that requirements to express emotions which are not genuinely felt in the particular situation (emotional dissonance) are associated with negative long and short-term effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate: (a) the psychophysiological short-term effects of emotional dissonance in a face-to-face service interaction and (b) the moderating role of gender and neuroticism. In total, 32 women and 27 men were instructed to play the role of a service employee, who had to interact with an angry and rude customer. Half of the sample was given information that the organization expected them to be friendly (emotional dissonance), the other half was told they were expected to act naturally and show their genuine feelings (no emotional dissonance). Subjective and behavioral responses revealed that participants in the “friendly” condition modulated their emotional expressions to a greater extent than those in the “naturally” condition. Participants in the “friendly” condition showed stronger systolic and diastolic blood pressure responses. Furthermore, hierarchical regression analyses yielded that gender and neuroticism partly moderated the association between emotional dissonance and participants' psychophysiological response.     

Luther Studies in Germany—The Presence and Absence of Theology

Abstract : German Luther studies are still affected by the constellation of the years after the Second World War. Gerhard Ebeling's interpretation of Luther continues to frame the discourse. At the same time, in both systematic theology and church history, genuine interest in Luther has waned. There are some approaches that promise change. Some contributions in systematic theology have revealed the complex character of Luther's theology. Luther is becoming more contextualized. Most significant is the study of Luther with a view to medieval piety, especially mysticism.     

Gesundheitssystem und psychotherapeutisches Selbst

Psychotherapy as a profession can be analysed from two different theoretical points of view: as far as social conditions are concerned the author profits on the one hand from a system-theoretical approach in treating the health-system as a social system; on the other hand and as far as the inner conditions of psychotherapeutic work are concerned, basic assumptions of psychoanalytic self-psychology may be helpful to demonstrate and understand the special character of psychotherapy as a “people-changing-profession”. This special status historically refers to medical treatment as a communicative practice. Actually the psychotherapeutic self seems to split itself up into many competing directions and thereby weakens its possible impact on the health-system.     

Psychische Betreuung von Patienten und Angehörigen in der Transplantationsmedizin

During the decision making process and waiting period before organ transplantation patients and their families often suffer from psychological distress. After transplantation a subgroup of patients keeps showing psychological symptoms and also impairments of quality of life. Psychological treatment manuals are often demanded, but are rarely achieved. This study describes the experience with a low frequent (8 sessions/year) therapeutic group for lung transplant candidates. The group, which is based on a cognitive behavioural concept, is lead by a physician (internal medicine), a psychotherapist and a physiotherapist. This therapeutic group has been continuously offered for patients and their caregivers for the past 7 years. About 50% of all patients participated in this program before transplantation, after transplantation only a few patients visited the group sessions. On average 12 patients and 8 caregivers visited each session. One problem for these patients with severe lung-disease was the long distance between patient’s homes and the hospital. This has been the reason for self-help organisations to demand better psychotherapeutic outpatient support for patients and their families before and after organ transplantation.     

The Pragmatism of Hilbert's Programme

It is shown that David Hilbert's formalistic approach to axiomaticis accompanied by a certain pragmatism that is compatible with aphilosophical, or, so to say, external foundation of mathematics.Hilbert's foundational programme can thus be seen as areconciliation of Pragmatism and Apriorism. This interpretation iselaborated by discussing two recent positions in the philosophy ofmathematics which are or can be related to Hilbert's axiomaticalprogramme and his formalism. In a first step it is argued that thepragmatism of Hilbert's axiomatic contradicts the opinion thatHilbert style axiomatical systems are closed systems, a reproachposed by Carlo Cellucci. In the second section the question isdiscussed whether Hilbert's pragmatism in foundational issuescomes close to an a-philosophical ``naturalism in mathematics' assuggested by Penelope Maddy. The answer is ``no', because forHilbert philosophy had its specific tasks in the general projectto found mathematics. This is illuminated in the concludingsection giving further evidence for Hilbert's foundationalapriorism by discussing his ``axiom of the existence of mind' andrelating it to the ``one and only axiom' of the German algebraistof logic, Ernst Schröder, postulating the inherence of signs onthe paper.     

Die Wirkung von traumatischem Stress auf biopsychische Selbstorganisationsprozesse

Social frameworks have influenced the understanding of trauma-reactive psychic disorders during the course of the past two centuries.The 20th century has further shaped this understanding by the various concepts established by the different therapeutic schools.The incorporation of scientific results, as well as the theory of complex dynamic systems particularly that of synergetics supply now abundant impulses stimulating the discussion of posttraumatic stress disorders on a psychodynamic, neurophysiological, and systemspecific basis, thereby leaving those schools behind.Comparing synergetic models with the current state of neuroscientific research of post traumatic stress disease (PTSD) gives surprising insights of the dynamics of this disorder,and the resulting therapeutic principles.Specific therapeutic approaches, with the two phases of stabilisation and of trauma processing can be derived from such functional principles of neuronal networks.     

Musiktherapie bei Kindern mit Migräne

Migraine in childhood is a serious health problem with a tendency for chronification. According to the bio-psycho-social model migraine is considered as a disorder generated by multiple factors and requiring an interdisciplinary treatment concept consisting of both medical and psychotherapeutic interventions. Music therapy as a nonverbal, creative arts therapy is especially apt for the treatment of children. A specific treatment concept in music therapy for children with migraine, to be applied within a multidisciplinary framework, and its theoretical background are presented in this article. Music therapy is firmly established within the context of stationary infant psychiatric care. Also, it is presently used as a method of outpatient psychotherapy mainly for children and adolescents. Additionally, music therapy finds frequent use in medical care, special needs education and curative education for children. This article will be limited to the presentation of music therapy as artistic psychotherapy.