Differences in Skin Conductance Levels Among High-risk Aggressive Kindergarten Children
Open Access
Author:
O'Neil , Shannon Marie
Area of Honors:
Human Development and Family Studies
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Lisa Michelle Kopp, Thesis Supervisor Dr. Lisa Michelle Gatzke-Kopp, Thesis Supervisor Dr. Kathryn Bancroft Hynes, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
skin conductance aggression emotion processing
Abstract:
Children who present early signs of chronic aggressive and violent behavior are at heightened risk for a number of negative developmental outcomes including conduct disorder. However, high-risk aggressive children cannot be generalized into one distinct group. This study examined the role that electrodermal activity measures play in differentiating highly aggressive kindergarten children in terms of parent and teacher reports of behavior, as well as physiological response to different emotional stimuli. Findings reveal that both tonic period and nonspecific skin conductance level relate to differences in teacher report of child emotion regulation, social competence, and internalizing behaviors as well as emotional response to happiness and anger.
