Professor John L. Andreassi

Jennifer M. Ferreter, Research Assistant

The psychophysiology laboratory is equipped to study the relationship between physiological response and behavior.   A current emphasis is to study the relationship among stress, cardiovascular response and personality.   The cardiovascular response includes heart rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. An important dependent variable has been cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) under stressful conditions.   The CVR refers to changes in level of heart rate, for example, from a resting baseline condition to that recorded when a person is under some sort of stress. The study of cardiovascular reactivity has implications for the study of stress in the workplace and related health outcomes.   Persons with a high level of reactivity are at higher risk for the development of heart disease than those with low levels of CVR.   Personality factors influence the CVR in stressful situations.

Some sample publications from the Psychophysiology Laboratory:

Fichera, L.V., & Andreassi, J.L. (1998). Stress and personality as factors in women’s cardiovascular reactivity. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 28, 143-157.

ndreassi, J.L. (2000). Cardiovascular reactivity during public speaking as a functioin of personality variables.   International Journal of Psychophysiology, 37, 267-273.

Posters presentations:

Teoh, A.Y., & Andreassi, J.L. (2000). Influence of work pacing, Type A/B behavior and gender on cardiovascular reactivity.   Tenth International Conference, International Organization of Psychophysiology, Sydney, Australia, July 24- August 28, 2000.

 Alikakou, E., & Andreassi, J.L. (2002). Effects of workload and auditory stimulation on cardiovascular reactivity. Eleventh International Conference, International Organization of Psychophysiology, Montreal, Canada, July 29-August 3, 2002.

Kirkland, K.L., Hirsch, S., Sommer, K.L., & Andreassi, J.L. (2003). Effects of interpersonal rejection and narcissism on cardiovascular reactivity. Annual conference of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, Illinois, May.

In Preparation:

Andreassi, J.L., Hirsch, S., & Ferreter, J.M.   Effects of quiz stress and personality variables (narcissism, sociotropy and self-esteem) on cardiovascular reactivity.

Andreassi, J.L., & Ferreter, J.M. Effects of imagery and personality (sociotropy and mood) on cardiovascular reactivity

Contact information:

Professor J.L. Andreassi

Psychophysiology Laboratory

Baruch College, Box 8-215

One Bernard Baruch Way

New York, N.Y. 10010

Tel: 646-3790

Email: John_Andreassi@baruch.cuny.edu