TY - JOUR
AU - Pennebaker, James W.
AB -  Whereas disclosing traumatic events to others can reduce autonomic nervous system activity and reap positive health benefits for the discloser, the physiological consequences for the listener are less clear. It was predicted that listening to the disclosure of trauma would be stressful, resulting in increases in the listeners' anxiety and skin conductance level (SCL). SCL and heart rate (HR) were recorded while 66 listeners watched a 1- to 2-hr videotaped interview of 1 of 33 Holocaust survivors disclosing their World War II experiences. The simultaneous physiological measurements of the Holocaust disclosers and subject listeners were averaged into 1-min blocks and correlated with each other. Of the significant SCL correlations between the disclosers and listeners, 70% were from listeners who evidenced SCL patterns that fluctuated in an inverse pattern to the disclosers. Those listeners who evidenced SCL patterns corresponding to the disclosers were more likely to have high scores on the Epstein Feelings Inventory and report experiencing similar emotions as the disclosers. Results suggest a fundamental distinction between disclosing traumatic experiences and listening to them. Implications for social support are discussed. 
TI - Talking Versus Hearing About Holocaust Experiences
JF - Basic and Applied Social Psychology
DO - 10.1207/s15324834basp1302_2
DA - 1992-06-01
UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/taylor-francis/talking-versus-hearing-about-holocaust-experiences-3cYx2wYJOn
SP - 165
EP - 179
VL - 13
IS - 2
DP - DeepDyve
ER -