1.3. Aims of the Current Research
The first aim of the current study was to determine whether mental activation of one’s pet dog reduces stress reactivity during a mild stressor. We hypothesized that individuals who completed a structured writing activity about their pet dog prior to completing a stressor would report higher positive affect and less cardiovascular stress reactivity in response to the stressor than those who completed a structured writing activity about a general positive memory. As a second aim, we assessed the extent to which the effect of this mental activation on stress reactivity may differ based on the type of stressor (social-evaluative or cognitive). 