Ten systolic blood pressure readings were manually obtained 5 min. before and 5 min. after both a 3-hr. encounter group and a 3-hr. general discussion meeting. Ss were 32 male addicts who were drug-free residents in a therapeutic community. Results showed significant elevations of pressure before and significant decreases following the encounter only. However, assertions that the encounter group influences emotions must be tempered by the possibility that anticipation of the event increases pressure (affect), the adaptation of which may appear as a “ventilation” effect.
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