[Psychological versus physical stress conditions as determinants of psychophysical regulatory processes]

In a psychophysiological experimental study, two methods of standardization to induce failure-type stress situations were tested. "Psychological standardization" uses a computerized adaptive procedure to obtain a similar and stable amount of failure (about 60% incorrect solutions) both for each individual and over time; the number of tasks, however could change. The conventional "physical standardization" uses a constant number of identical tasks, both for each person and over time. The results show a better standardization of failure-type situations by using the psychological standardization method. It was further shown that heart rate and skin conductance reactions depend mainly on coping motivation and coping success rather than on the stressor intensity (objective number of tasks). Results also revealed that dispositional action control (Kuhl, 1983) was a better predictor of physiological regulation under psychological standardization than under physical standardization of failure-type stress situations.