Does cardiovascular reactivity during speech reflect self-construction processes?

Substantial empirical research has been undertaken on cardiovascular reacti vity (CVR), however interpretation of this research is hampered by a lack o f theoretical frameworks. This paper develops a framework initially stimula ted by evidence demonstrating that the cardiovascular system increases in a ctivity during communication, and that the extent of this activation depend s upon numerous and diverse psychosocial factors. We attempt to account for this phenomenon using recent post-structuralist ideas concerning the const ructive nature of language and its centrality to an individual's sense of s elf. Our theoretical framework proposes that the CVR exhibited during langu age use is explicable in terms of self-construction processes. From this an alysis we hypothesised that CVR would differ across conversations about pri vate self, public self and non-self topics, and that these differences woul d depend upon people's speaking histories. We found that the blood pressure and heart rate of 102 women was most reactive when they talked in a labora tory with a stranger about aspects of their private self, and least reactiv e during non-self talk, whilst their heart rate was most reactive during ta lk about their public self. Overall the results highlight the inextricable link between our inherent socialness and our cardiovascular systems.