In Exp. I, 60 undergraduates were exposed to either a 10%, 50%, 90%, or 100% probability of shock after a 15-sec. anticipation period. The 90% condition produced greater changes in GSR than the 50% and 100% conditions and greater increases in heart rate than the 50% condition. In Exp. II, 60 undergraduates were exposed to either a 10%, 50%, 90%, or 99% probability of a potentially avoidable aversive event. The 90% condition produced greater changes in GSR than the 10% condition and greater increases in heart rate than the 99% condition. These findings suggest that probable but uncertain aversive events produce greatest arousal.
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