Hans-Peter Krüger, Ralph Kohnen

• The psychological and physiological effects of a socially oriented sensitivity training were evaluated. It is shown that decreased physical distance as well as increased intimacy yields high activation, both in psychological measures (experienced stress) and in pulse frequences. One result (highly significant and replicated in other experiments) was paradoxical: when Ss had to caress the face of a heterosexual vis-a-vis, they reported high experienced stress, but pulse frequences dropped rapidely below the resting pulse. Some suggestions areThe psychological and physiological effects of a socially oriented sensitivity training were evaluated. It is shown that decreased physical distance as well as increased intimacy yields high activation, both in psychological measures (experienced stress) and in pulse frequences. One result (highly significant and replicated in other experiments) was paradoxical: when Ss had to caress the face of a heterosexual vis-a-vis, they reported high experienced stress, but pulse frequences dropped rapidely below the resting pulse. Some suggestions are made to explain these findings. The question arises whether an autonomic somatic process, induced by social Stimulation, but independent of the cognitive coping is responsible for these results.…