Schachter-Singer Theory

Daisy, Rachel, Katie, Shreya, Robbie, and Sarah

● Definition: the interaction between physical arousal and how we cognitively label that arousal○ To feel emotion we must

identify the arousal● Believes that there are two key

components that make up emotion: physical arousal and a cognitive label

● AKA the Two-Factor Theory

What is it?

Experiment Video

3:36-6:08

Experiment - Part 1● In a 1962 experiment, Schachter and Singer performed an experiment to

test this theory. ● A group of 184 male participants was injected with epinephrine, a

hormone that produces arousal including increased heartbeat, trembling, and rapid breathing.

● All of the participants were told that they were being injected with a new drug to test their eyesight. However, one group of participants was informed the possible side-effects that the injection might cause while the other group of participants was not.

● Participants were then placed in a room with another participant who was actually a confederate in the experiment.

● The confederate either acted in one of two ways: euphoric or angry.

Experiment - Findings● Participants who had not been informed

about the effects of the injection were more likely to feel either happier or angrier than those who had been informed.

● Those who were in a room with the euphoric confederate were more likely to interpret the side effects of the drug as happiness, while those exposed to the angry confederate were more likely to interpret their feelings as anger.

● It also suggests that we interpret our emotions according to the behaviour of those around us.

Relation to other theories

● It is similar to the James-Lange and Cannon-Bard theories because both theories also try to explain emotion in relation to physiological arousal.

Criticisms● There is no evidence of emotional processes

in the central nervous system except for its connection to cognitive functions.

● Sometimes emotions are experienced before we think about them.

● Other researchers have supported James-Lange's initial suggestion that there are actual physiological differences between emotions.

● In replications by Marshall and Zimbardo, the researchers found that participants were no more likely to act euphoric when exposed to a euphoric confederate than when they were exposed to a neutral confederate.

Limitations & Weaknesses● Deception - there was no informed consent● There was no prior measure of the participant's

mood● Replication attempts have been rare and

unsuccessful● Invasive with an adrenaline injection● No significant findings were found in the

participants self report on their emotional feeling

● Lacks validity as the unexplained bodily arousal is unusual

● Gender biased - all men

Relationship to TOK

The experiment relates to the TOK concept “Emotional Contagion”, which is the tendency for emotions such as anger or fear to spread quickly through a group of people.

Relationship to Practical Experiences● Example: You are walking down a

dark alley late at night. You hear footsteps behind you and you begin to tremble, your heart beats faster, and your breathing deepens. Upon noticing this arousal you realize that is comes from the fact that you are walking down a dark alley by yourself. This behavior is dangerous and therefore you feel the emotion of fear.

The End.