The Cardiovascular‐Behavioral Interaction—As It Appears Today

Abstract

Research is reviewed concerning the interrelationships among cardiodynamics, blood pressure control mechanisms, somatic activity, and the stimulus parameter of active vs passive coping. Emerging evidence suggests that with passive coping such as classical aversive conditioning, the heart is more under vagal control which is directionally linked with somatic activity, while blood pressure is more dominated by vascular processes. With active coping such as shock avoidance, the heart is under greater sympathetic control which is directionally independent of concomitant somatic activity, while cardiac influences on blood pressure become more dominant. Several current psycho physiological issues are discussed including the possible significance of these effects for cardiovascular disease processes.

Autonomic characteristics of defensive hostility: Reactivity and recovery to active and passive stressors

“…A primary distinction between active and passive coping stressor tasks is the degree of psychological engagement required for performance completion. The cold pressor task has been classified as a passive coping task because it requires relatively little continuous mental effort to execute (Obrist, 1976). Reaction time and arithmetic tasks require considerable mental effort to execute and are considered active coping in nature.…”

Genetic Analysis of Anger: Genetic Dominance or Competitive Sibling Interaction

“…A number of studies showed a significant relationship between TABP and CHD (e.g. Matthews and Jennings, 1984;Obrist, 1976;Rosenman et al, 1964;Zyzanski et al, 1979). However it soon appeared that the findings were inconsistent and unstable and that TABP, as it was originally defined, could not be considered a reliable predictor of CHD (Matthews, 1988).…”

Reconceptualising workplace resilience - A cross-disciplinary perspective.

“…Also, in working stress prevention, the training of coping skills is fundamental, and early resiliency literature suggested that cardiovascular responses have an interaction with behavioural change and coping behaviours (Orbrist, 1976). Cardiovascular responses within this context represent adjustments in hemodynamic and its distribution that occurs to meet the metabolic requirements potentially or actually demanded by the task or activity the individual is facing.…”

“…Cardiovascular responses within this context represent adjustments in hemodynamic and its distribution that occurs to meet the metabolic requirements potentially or actually demanded by the task or activity the individual is facing. In addition, Orbrist (1976) suggested that coping behaviours had an association with cardiovascular reactivity. Active coping refers to trying to cope with the situation.…”

“…To summarise, if coping mechanisms are associated with cardiovascular and endocrine responses and how an individual appraises a stressful scenario (Challenge or Threat) and resilience is defined by the process of coping (Richardson et al, 1990), it is necessary to exam further the physiological responses associated with coping behaviours and behavioural change (Orbrist, 1976) as outlined within this section. Indeed, in physical and physiological studies, the physiological adaptations in the body system to challenges are not only studied but also put into concrete athlete training methods.…”