Brain activity (CNV) as affected by a social comparison process (status). [TR 52]

Technical Report no.52 In recent decades, U.S. Federal and state budgets have expanded faster than the Gross National Product. This expansion has enhanced the growth of state and national capital cities. We present empirical evidence which shows that capitals have grown more than other cities in terms of population, income, transportation and communication, and occupations in the more advanced sectors of the economy. This study presents evidence suggesting that persons manipulated into a high status will evidence altered brain wave patterns in the form of heightened CNV (Contingent negative variation). This is a study of physiological responses to social situations. This is described in Barchas (1976). Work on this paper was supported in part by the Organizations Research Training Program of Stanford University (NIMH Grant #2 T32 MH15149-O3).