A therapist tells a patient who is afraid of elevators that his rapid breathing while on an elevator is not due to fear but is a natural consequence of too little oxygen in a small,enclosed space. With this new interpretation of his arousal,the patient no longer dreads elevators. The reduction in the patient's fear is best understood in terms of the

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The therapist's explanation of the patient's physiological response to riding in an elevator provides a new cognitive interpretation of the situation. This aligns with the two-factor theory, which suggests that emotions are composed of both physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation of that arousal. By altering the patient's interpretation of their bodily sensations, they are able to reduce their fear.

A Therapist Tells a Patient Who Is Afraid of Elevators