Studies of Gaze During Induced Conflict in Families with a Hypertensive Father

Three modified replications (N = 32, 46, and 32) investigated verbal and nonverbal interactions during role playing of family conflict by family groups of father, mother, and one child. Half the fathers had essential hypertension and half were normotensive. Nonverbal but not verbal behavior differed between families with hypertensive vs. normotensive fathers. Hypertensive fathers and their normotensive wives and children looked at each other less (gaze aversion), both while listening and speaking, than did the members of normotensive families. The difference in duration of gaze aversion occurred more prominently during emotionally negative verbalizations. The results suggest a pattern of conflict avoidance in families with a hypertensive father.