Guns, Stress and your Immune System?

[gnihcraes]

read this quick blurb today, and was wondering why the "gun" was chosen to induce stress? I would have probably been happy seeing the gun...


Scientists at the University of British Columbia have found that looking at someone who appears sick boosts your immune system. Subjects had blood taken before and after watching a 10-minute slide show that contained disturbing images including people who appeared sick. Results of the blood tests showed people who had seen the sick people had a stronger immune system. From the article: "In the study, young adults were asked to watch a 10-minute slide show containing a series of unpleasant photographs. Some pictures included people who looked obviously ill in some way. The subjects' blood samples were then tested for levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a substance produced by the immune system that indicates your immune system is ramping up to more aggressively fight infection. As a control, pictures of people brandishing guns were also used on some participants—and they barely resulted in a significant increase in IL-6 production, signifying that IL-6 production is not simply a reaction to stress."

[sniper7]

I wonder what kind of guns they were looking at.

some of the male subjects may have had a small about of blood loss due to a hard on for the gun

[rhineoshott]

they just presuppose that images of guns cause stress.

[jake]

We also had a control condition in which participants looked at photos of people who were brandishing guns (most of which were pointed right at the camera, which means they were aimed right at participants themselves).

This was an image from the article. That's not to say it was one of the control images used, of course.

[Irving]

I'm stressed out because that guy is violating at least two rules of gun safety.

[68Charger]

I don't know about you guys, but I'm more afraid of the picture on the right... would probably lead to discussions about feelings or such..

[jake]

I'm stressed out because that guy is violating at least two rules of gun safety.

Rule Five: If you're going to wear stockings while shooting, please be a hot chick.

[theGinsue]

The whole thing sounds like bad science to me!

[68Charger]

Rule Five: If you're going to wear stockings while shooting, please be a hot chick.

reminds me of that prank where the guy put a stocking on his head, then went into business trying to conduct business normally

ahh, there it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8NgEH8xuYQ