schachter’s two-factor theory of emotionschac.PPTVIP

Schachter’s Two-Factor Theory of Emotion This theory is similar to Bem’s explanation for the cause of behavior in general. Schachter’s theory looks specifically at how we decide what emotion we are experiencing – when we are experiencing one. When trying to understand what kind of person we are, we first watch what we do and feel and then deduce our nature from this. This means that the first step in the experience of emotion is to experience physiological arousal. You are physiologically up or down, compared to normal We then try to find a label to explain our feelings, usually by looking at what we are doing (behavior) and what else is happening at the time of the arousal (environment). Thus we don’t just feel angry, happy or whatever: we experience general feeling and then decide what they mean, a specific emotion. Two Factor Theory Physiological arousal (up or down) occurs + Environmental circumstances = Attributed emotion Example 1 I am tense and sweating + A gun is being pointed at me = I am afraid Example 2 I am tense and sweating + Sorority Sue is looking at me and smiling = I am in love Note in these two examples, the state of arousal that the person is experiencing is the same. What changes is the environment. Two-factor theory argues that the cues in the environment are what determine the emotion that we believe we are experiencing. Have you ever heard (or been told) someone say to a friend who is a bit unhappy, “You need to go somewhere fun. You’ll feel better.”? This statement is actually an application of Schachter’s theory. Change the environment and the emotion will change with it. Would this work for severely depressed people? No But, for minor ups and downs, there is something to the argument. Research Example Schachter and Singer (1962) gave some people a mild stimulant and others a placebo (on a pretence of testing vitamins). They then gave them a questionnaire containing rather personal questions. Another person in the room got an