Erica saw her old boyfriend and her heart began to race. According to the two-factor theory, is she happy to see him or frightened of him?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the two-factor theory, emotions are the result of both physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation of that arousal. In this case, Erica's heart is racing, but her emotional reaction (happy or frightened) is dependent on how she interprets that physiological response. Therefore, it is not possible to determine whether she is happy or frightened without knowing her interpretation of the increased heart rate.

Erica Saw Her Old Boyfriend and Her Heart Began to Race