Abstract
The purpose of this study was to measure psycho physiological response to 'agari'. 'Agari' is defined loosely as stage fright, and was measured in this study as an internal state of psychological and physiological arousal which occurs in performance situations. To test the effects of 'agari', eighteen participants give a speech in front of several observers (experimental condition), and another eighteen students were asked to read an essay aloud without observation (control condition). Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and respiration rate (RR) were recorded at rest (baseline), while waiting to present, and before and after presentating. Participants were also asked to complete several questionnaires, the 'Agari' State Questionnaire, the STAI A-State, and the General-Arousal Check List at the same time as the physiological measures were taken. All physiological responses increased significantly in the experimental condition, and all responses were significantly higher in the experimental condition than in control condition before the task, and while waiting to present. In the experimental condition, mean levels of 'agari' and general arousal increased significantly before the presentation, but changes in STAI-state did not reach significantly before the presentation, but changes in STAI-state did not reach significance. Results suggest that'agari' might be triggers of psychological and physiological responses, but 'agari' does not necessarily trigger state anxiety.
