On his first day of class, Professor Saccamano thinks he is nervous because his blood pressure is up and his hands are shaking. He continues to feel this way, however, before every class meeting of the semester, and eventually realizes that his arousal is due to the five flights of stairs he must climb up to the classroom. Which theory best explains his misattribution?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The two-factor theory of emotion, proposed by Schachter and Singer, suggests that emotions are determined by physiological arousal and the cognitive interpretation of that arousal. In this case, Professor Saccamano initially misinterprets his physiological arousal (increased blood pressure and shaking hands) as nervousness, but later realizes it is due to the physical exertion of climbing stairs. This misattribution of the source of arousal is a classic example of the two-factor theory of emotion in action.

On His First Day of Class, Professor Saccamano Thinks He