Psychophysiological Measurement

Psychophysiology is the study of how psychology, behavior, and physiology are interrelated. In the communication discipline, methods of psychophysiological measurement - including those exploring the nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine, and immune systems - have the potential to illuminate how social behavior can either enhance or inhibit wellness. Communication behaviors not only make use of multiple physiological systems, but they, in turn, act upon those systems in ways that carry implications for physical health. The field of health communication has already applied psychophysiological measurement to the task of exploring how relational behaviors (e.g, social support and affection) provide stress-buffering effects and how relational conflict - particularly when characterized by problematic behaviors such as a demand/withdraw pattern or reciprocity of negative affect - can be threatening to health. Future research can meaningfully extend these findings by developing and testing communicative interventions, particularly those with the potential to enhance immunocompetence.