The Two-Factor Theory of Emotion

In this exercise you will do a critical analysis of a research study that tested Schachter and Singer's two-factor theory of emotion (as a refresher go to http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/two-factor_emotion.htm). As the text explains, this theory proposes that emotions have two ingredients: physical arousal and a cognitive label. In a fascinating test of this theory, Stanley Schachter studied prison inmates who had been diagnosed as sociopaths. An older term in psychological diagnosis, sociopathy refers to people who tend to be emotionally flat. Schachter found a much greater incidence of sociopathy among prisoners than in the general population.

1. Why did this finding not surprise Schachter? How does this result follow from the two-factor theory?

2. As a test of his theory, Schachter had prison inmates who had been diagnosed as sociopaths tested on an avoidance task. Presumably motivated by fear, test subjects learn a response in order to avoid being shocked. The performance of this group was compared with a control group of inmates who were not sociopathic.

Based on the two-factor theory, which group do you predict took longer to master the avoidance task? Explain your reasoning.

3. In a second experiment, Schachter injected sociopathic inmates with the stress hormone adrenaline and then tested their performance once again on the avoidance task.

Why did Schachter conduct this second experiment? What was he expecting to find? Based on the two-factor theory, what effect should adrenaline have on the prisoners' performance? Explain your reasoning.

4. In a third experiment, college students were allowed to grade their own psychology exams, in complete privacy. Unknown to them, the experimenter had placed them under the influence of either adrenaline (which increases physical arousal) or chlorpromazine (a tranquilizer that decreases physical arousal).

Once again, make a prediction based on the two-factor theory. Which students would be expected to cheat the most in this experiment? Explain your reasoning.

5. These three experiments suggest that by manipulating physiological arousal in certain populations, it might be possible to exert some control over crime. What are the ethical implications of such a notion?