The effects of biofeedback on personality: an exploration study.

Abstract

The hypothesis was tested that biofeedback relaxation training, a method of enhancing relaxation by the use of analog feedback from autonomic systems related to relaxation, has an effect on personality. A total of thirty subjects drawn from a volunteer pool of college students was randomly divided into three groups, with each group administered the Personality Research Form. One group received biofeedback relaxation training supplemented with autogenic phrase practice, that is, exercises using phrases to enhance imagery related to relaxation. The second received autogenic phrase practice without biofeedback, and the third received no treatment. At the end of the treatment period each group was administered a parallel form of the Personality Research Form. The scores were analyzed using a 2 X 3 mixed design analysis of variance and the Scheffe Test of All Possible Comparisons. The results indicated that biofeedback did not have an effect on personality traits.