Body Image and Physiological Patterns in Patients with Peptic Ulcer and Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Abstract
Cross-validation of Fisher and Cleveland's body-image scoring schema was achieved and its theoretical importance was extended to include physiological activity. As predicted, peptic ulcer patients had higher heart rates than rheumatoid arthritic patients under all experimental conditions. No significant differences between these groups were found for GSR or EMG activity. In comparing these groups on the basis of difference scores between experimental conditions, however, limited positive results were obtained for EKG and EMG variables. Modest support was found for a positive relationship between Ss classified on the basis of a body-image dimension and physiological arousal. These findings support the view that body-image theory has heuristic value in accounting for physiological arousal patterns. A more satisfactory theory, however, would have to encompass the principle of relative response specificity and the specific attitude hypothesis in relation to psychosomatic disorders.