The Schachter-Singer theory, often called the two-factor theory of emotion, proposes that a combination of physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation determines emotions.
Here’s a breakdown of the theory:
Schachter & Singer (1962)
The Schachter-Singer experiment, often called the “epinephrine study,” was a foundational piece of research for the two-factor theory of emotion.
The Schachter-Singer experiment remains a critical piece of research in understanding emotion, emphasizing the intertwined relationship of physiological responses and cognitive processes.
Aim(s):
Procedure:
Male college students were injected with either epinephrine (which induces physiological arousal) or a placebo.
They were then given information about the effects of the injection: some were informed about the true effects, some were misinformed, and some were uninformed.
The study involved 185 male students from the University of Minnesota’s introductory psychology course. They participated for course credit.
Prior health record checks ensured the injection’s safety. A self-selecting sampling method was used.
Independent measures designwas used, with participants randomly allocated to different conditions.
To do this, they conducted an experiment where participants were injected with either epinephrine, a hormone known to induce physiological arousal, or a saline solution which acted as a placebo.
They would experience side effects within 3 to 5 minutes which would last for an hour.
Participants were then divided into three groups based on the information they received about the effects of the injection.
This confederate behaved in one of two pre-determined ways to create a specific emotional environment.
The primary dependent variable in the Schachter-Singer experiment was the participants’ emotional response.
Participants filled out a questionnaire after the injection and interaction with the confederate., which gauged their emotional state.
The essence of the dependent variable was to determine how the combination of physiological arousal (epinephrine vs. placebo) and external cues (euphoria vs. anger) led participants to label and experience a specific emotion.
The participant’s self-reports and behaviors were meticulously noted and analyzed to decipher the emotional state they experienced in response to the manipulated variables of the experiment.
Findings
The interpretation of the situation (whether they were with someone acting happy or angry) determined how participants labeled and experienced their own emotion, even though the physiological arousal (from the epinephrine) was the same.
Conclusion
The results supported the Schachter-Singer two-factor theory. When participants couldn’t explain their arousal from the injection, they looked to the environment (the confederate’s behavior) to label their feelings.
Those who could attribute their arousal to the epinephrine didn’t feel the need to seek environmental cues for their emotional state.
The Schachter-Singer theory suggests that emotions are a combination of arousal and how we interpret that arousal based on our environment.
This theory contrasts with other emotion theories, suggesting that specific emotions arise from physiological responses.
Ethics
Strengths
Weaknesses
Issues and Debates
References
Dror, O. E. (2017). Deconstructing the “two factors”: The historical origins of the Schachter–Singer theory of emotions.Emotion Review,9(1), 7-16.
Reisenzein, R. (1983).The Schachter theory of emotion: two decades later.Psychological Bulletin,94(2), 239.
Schachter, S., & Singer, J. (1962).Cognitive, social, and physiological determinants of emotional state.Psychological Review,69(5), 379.
Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education
Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.
Saul McLeod, PhD
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester
Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.
