Nice guys finished last in anger experiments
“If you are angry with someone, tell them that and tell them why. Just
getting angry is advantageous in that it releases physical tension, but it
can also evoke anger and aggression in others. The trick is to express this
emotion honestly and then explain it so it doesn't create an unpleasant
situation in return."
(Continued from page 1)
was another student to see who could
react faster to a light being turned off on
an electronic console.
Gentry said each time a student lost
out of a series of comfjetitions, he
received an electric shock that everyone
agreed was "unpleasant but not painful."
Each time a student won, the opponent
was to be shocked at a level the student
was able to set before the trial began.
In fact, however, the scientists weren't
interested in reaction times at all. Gentry
explained. Instead, they wanted to
determine how feigned expressions of
anger or silence would affect the levels at
which the students set the shocks.
"The opponent was really a
confederate of ours," the psychologist
said. "The deception was necessary so
the students would respond naturally."
Predetermined responses
After the first series of trials, the
confederate made one of four different
responses which the students could
overhear.
In one set of experiments, he got angry
and complained about the shock levek.
In another, he got angry and insulted the
student. A third set had the accomplice
simply say the shocks were too high
without expressing emotion, and in the
fourth, he kept silent.
"We found that when there was no
response, most of the students
significantly increased their aggression
as represented by the levels of shock they
set," Gentry said. "On the other hand,
the shock levels significantly decreased
when the confederate said he was angry
and explained that the shocks were too
high."
Insults and complaints without anger
did not reduce aggression, he added.
Stifling anger helps no one
As a clinical psychologist. Gentry said
he frequently sees patients who are
unhappy and depressed because they
stifle their anger when f>eople abuse
them.
"They think they are being nice, when
really they are just acting as doormats,"
he said.
"If you are angry with someone, tell
them that and tell them why," he
recommends. "Just getting angry is
advantageous in that it releases physical
tension, but it can also evoke anger and
aggression in others. The trick is to
express this emotion honestly and then
explain it so it doesn't create an
unpfeasant situation in return."
Parents who punish children for
showing anger, saying "No one loves
angry little boys or girls," are doing their
offspring a disservice. Gentry said.
Anger is an emotion, and as such is
neither good nor bad in itself.
"It's better to tell a child that you
understand why he's upset, and then
explain why he should or should not do
something."
Similarly, parents should not hide
their feelings when children misbehave,
the psychologist said.
"Children leam much of their social
behavior from their parents. How are
they going to leam it's all right to be
angry if they never see Mom and Dad
upset?"
Dr. Thomas Gain 's Jr. of the
University of Texas HeJth Science
Center used the recently published
research as the basis of his doctoral
dissertation in psychology at UNC.
Gentry said he and Dr. Paul M. Kirwin,
formerly of the VA Hospital and now a
member of the psychology service at th»
San Francisco VA Hospital, helped to
design the experiments and served as
advisors to Gaines.
“It's better to tell a child that you understand why he's upset, and then
explain why he should not do something."
Professional news
Dr. Peter B. Bennett, professor of
anesthesiology and director of the F.G. HaU
Laboratory for Environmental Research,
presented a paper on "No Modification of
Onset Depth of High Pressure Nervous
Syndrome Convlusions by Temperature, Rate
of Compression and Narcotics" at the
International Physiological Sciences Congress
in Paris, France, July 18-22. Dr. J.A. Cromer,
assistant medical research professor in
anesthesiology, was co-author.
Dr. Maurice B. Landers III, professor of
ophthalmology, was course director for the
Advanced Intraocular Surgery Workshop and
Surgical Assistants' Course held at the Eye
Center in August.
The two-day course included didactic
lectures as well as half-day sessions devoted to
gaining surgical experience in vitrectomy
techniques.
Guest faculty represented several schools
across the nation, and the 65 participants came
from as far away as Australia.
Dr. Edwin B. Cox, associate in medicine and
director of the Cancer Patient Data Program
for the Comprehensive Cancer Center,
presented a paper on "Toward a Medical
Language" at Medinfo '77, jointly sponsored
by the American and Canadian medical
associations and the International Federation
of Information Processing Systems in Toronto,
Ontario, in August.
An article on "Our Fume-Free Air" was
published in the August issue of Lahoralory
Management. Co-authors weie J. Phillip
Pickett, associate in pathology, and Gene M.
Winders, business manager of pathology.
Pickett had been quoted in the previous
month's issue in an article entitled
"Histologists Assess the Futun.' of Histology."
The July issue also carried an article on
"Histochemical Staining Gives Muscle
Biopsies New Utilitv" by Leoturd Noble, a
former histology technologist; Nate Brinn,
histology technologist; and Dr. Edward H.
Bossen, associate professor of pathology.
Richard H. Peck, ad
ministrative director of
Duke Hospital, has
been appointed
chairman of the Coun
cil on Government
Liaison of the N.C.
Hospital Association.
The responsibility of
the eight-member
council is to advise on
the development of as
sociation policv on
federal a nd state
legislation.
PECK
Former Dent Award winner new director
3XYGENSNUSE
HO SMOKIN'
lo OPtn FLAM
LAWRENCE R. STUMP
Lawrence R. Stump, CRNA, has been
appointed chief nurse anesthetist and
director "of the Nurse Anesthesia
Program. He succeeds Mary B. Campbell,
CRNA, who retired Sept. 30 after 25 years
in that capacity.
The appointment was announced by
Dr. Merel H. Harmel, professor and
chairman of anesthesiology.
Stump earned a B.S. in nursing from
the University of Wisconsin in 1968. He
completed Duke's Nurse Anesthesia
Program in 1971, and received the Sara J.
Dent Award for outstanding
achievement.
Following three years' active duty in
the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, Stump
joined the anesthesia staff here in 1974 as
Educational Director. He has been
involved in clinical anesthesiology and
the initial development of a proposed
baccalaureate degree for the nurse
anesthetist.
He is an active member of a niunber of
state and national professional
organizations.
Dr. Dorothy E. Naununn, director of
Student Health Services, represented the
Southern College Health Association as its
president-elect at the affiliates officers
meeting of the American College Health
Association in Evanston, III., July 18-19.
She attended the annual seminar in office
dermatology sponsored by the American
Academy of Dermatology at Colby College,
Waterville, Me., Aug. 3-6.
Dr. Geoige Maddox,!
director of the Center!
for the Study of Aging!
and Human^
Development,!,
provided the overview^
of the Speak Out!
Sessions at the N.C.i
Governor's Conference!
on "Quality of Life for|
Our Senior Citizens,"
July 6-7, at MeredithI
College in Raleigh. MADDOX
The sessions gave senior citizens and those
who work with them an opportunity to
suggest how North Carolina may better
improve the quality of life for the elderly.
Recommendations will be used to help
formulate a state policy on aging.
Thanks to you...
"Thanks to you it works," so the ad
goes as it describes the United Way,
which last year raised a nation-wide total
of $1,104,329,774 for hundreds of
different agencies which serve citizens
throughout the United States.
It works because of 2,100 local
campaigns including the Durham United
Fluid, which in turn works because of
successful drives in various segments of
the community.
Last year, Duke surpassed its goal by
raising $100,000, the lai^est portion
coming from the medical center.
ThnJugh Monday, Oct. 17 people in
the medical center had contributed or
pledged $33,400 toward a goal of $46,305,
according to Gene M. Winders, business
manager in the Department of Pathology
and co-chairperson of this year's drive.