In the famous experiment by Schacter and Singer involving epinephrine, what was found to govern the emotions?

Correct option is C

The correct answer is Both cognitive appraisal and physiological arousal.
3. Both cognitive appraisal and physiological arousal: Schacter and Singer’s theory suggests that emotions arise from the combination of physiological arousal and cognitive appraisal of the situation. This experiment demonstrated that individuals interpret their physiological arousal based on the situation, and this interpretation governs their emotional experience.

Schacter and Singer's Epinephrine Experiment (1962)
Schacter and Singer's Two-Factor Theory of Emotion posits that emotion results from a combination of physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation of that arousal. They conducted an experiment to explore how physiological arousal (e.g., increased heart rate) interacts with cognitive appraisal to create an emotional response.

1. The Experiment:
1.1 Participants: 184 male participants, all administered an injection of epinephrine (adrenaline), which induces physical arousal symptoms like increased heart rate and sweating.
1.2 Groups: Participants were divided into:
1.2.1 Group 1 (Epinephrine Ignorant): They were told they would experience side effects but not informed that the injection was adrenaline.
1.2.2 Group 2 (Epinephrine Informed): They were told about the injection’s side effects and knew what to expect.
1.2.3 Group 3 (Placebo): These participants received a saline injection, unaware it was a placebo.
1.3 Cognitive Appraisal: Participants were exposed to a confederate who acted in either an angry or euphoric manner.
1.3.1 Anger Condition: The confederate behaved angrily.
1.3.2 Euphoria Condition: The confederate acted cheerful.
2. Results:
2.1 The epinephrine ignorant group was more likely to attribute their physiological arousal to the behavior of the confederate (either anger or euphoria). This suggests that cognitive interpretation of the situation influenced their emotional experience.
2.2 The informed group, who knew the cause of their arousal, did not exhibit the same emotional response because they attributed their feelings to the physical effects of the injection.
2.3 The placebo group did not experience physiological arousal, so their emotional response was significantly less intense.


Information booster:

Schacter and Singer’s Theory of Emotion

Schacter and Singer’s Two-Factor Theory of Emotion asserts that emotions are the result of two key factors:
1. Physiological Arousal:
1.1 Emotions begin with physical changes in the body, such as increased heart rate or sweating. However, arousal alone does not determine the emotional experience.
1.2 For example, physical arousal (like the effects of epinephrine) can be interpreted in various ways, depending on the context.
2. Cognitive Appraisal:
2.1 The second factor involves cognitive interpretation or labeling of the physiological arousal. We evaluate the situation and assign an emotional label based on the context.
2.2 If the same physical arousal occurs in a frightening situation, we may label it as fear. If the arousal happens in a positive setting, we may interpret it as excitement.
3. Key Points:
3.1 Emotional experience requires both physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation: Without physiological arousal, no emotion is felt, and without cognitive appraisal, arousal cannot be labeled as a specific emotion.
3.2 Misattribution of arousal: When individuals cannot identify the source of their arousal, they may rely on external cues (such as the behavior of others) to interpret their feelings, potentially leading to misattribution of emotions.
3.3 Emotions are not automatic: According to Schacter and Singer, emotions are not automatic biological reactions; they depend on how we interpret our physiological states.
4. Applications:
4.1 Emotional Misattribution: People may misattribute their physiological arousal in situations, for instance, feeling nervous before a public speaking event but attributing it to fear of public speaking, even though they are excited about the opportunity.
4.2 Emotional Intelligence: Understanding how arousal and cognitive appraisal interact can help individuals manage their emotional responses effectively, especially in high-stress situations.