Biological Approach
all emotions are a physiological reaction, therefore they are a biological response
Psychology
studies the Two Factor Theory of Emotion
James-Lange Theory
(background)
states that physiological arousal happens first, then emotional experience
Cannon-Bard Theory
(background)
arousal and the emotional experience happen simultaneously
Schachter-Singer Two Factor Theory
(background)
believed previous studies left out the brain and cognitive appraisal
ex | anxious feeling in stomach can be reaction to both fear of public speaking and attraction
Aim
to test the Two-Factor Theory of Emotion
Sub-Aim #1
to test the role of cognitive factors in emotional experience
Sub-Aim #2
if you have an appropriate explanation for the emotion, will it have the appropriate label?
Sub-Aim #3
is physiological arousal needed for emotional experience?
Hypothesis #1
If an individual experiences physiological arousal with no immediate explanation, they will label the state and describe it in terms of cognitions available
Hypothesis #2
If an individual experiences physiological arousal for which they have an appropriate explanation, they will label is accordingly
Hypothesis #3
Given the same circumstances, an individual will react emotionally or describe their feelings as emotions only if they have physiological arousal
Independent Variable #1
physiological arousal
epi-informed
(IV - physiological arousal)
epinephrine + true effects
epi-misinformed
(IV - physiological arousal)
epinephrine + false effects
epi-ignorant
(IV - physiological arousal)
epinephrine + nothing
placebo
(IV - physiological arousal)
saline + nothing
Independent Variable #2
extent to which individual has an explanation for their feelings
epi-informed
(IV - explanation)
should not copy stooge’s behavior and stooge will have nothing to do with behavior
epi-misinformed
(IV - explanation)
will seek explanation for their feelings; should copy stooge and use them as explanation
epi-ignorant
(IV - explanation)
will seek explanation for their feelings; should copy stooge and use them as explanation
placebo
(IV - explanation)
shouldn’t copy stooge
Independent Variable #3
situation - euphoria or anger
Dependent Variable
emotional response
Method
controlled laboratory setting
data collected through direct observation and self-report questionnaires
independent measures - epinephrine can’t be removed once injected
Epinephrine Shot
(apparatus)
adrenaline disguised as a vitamin supplement called Suproxine
Placebo Shot
(apparatus)
saline solution
Injection Room
(apparatus)
where participants are told or not told about the shot, and then administered the shot
Waiting Room
(apparatus)
where the stooge is and where the participant waits for the test for vision
Ambiguous Questionnaire
(apparatus)
purposely has sensitive questions
Euphoric Condition
(apparatus)
papers, trash can, folder, hula hoop
Participants
185 males from an Introductory Psychology course at the University of Minnesota; 90% were obtained via volunteer sample in exchange for an extra 2 points on their final exam for every hour they spent in the experiment; 1 refused the injection and dropped out; all were approved to take the injection by student health services
Control #1
All participants will get an injection
Control #2
All participants in each condition will receive standardized instructions
Control #3
The stooge's behavior and actions will be standardized
Control #4
The items in the rooms will be placed in the same spots for each participant
Step 1
(procedure)
Each participant will be taken into the Injection Room and told the study is for a test for vision
Step 2
(procedure)
The participant is told they will be given a vitamin supplement called Suproxine. If they agree, the physician will give them the injection. The epi-informed condition will be told of the true effects, and the epi-misinformed will be told false effects
Step 3
(procedure)
The participant is taken into the Waiting Room and introduced to the stooge posing as a real participant. The participant is then told to wait 20 minutes for the test for vision
Step 4
(procedure)
In the euphoric condition, the room will be messy, and the researcher will apologize for it. The participant is told they can use the items in the room. The stooge will complete their set of behaviors and try to get the participant to join in
Step 5
(procedure)
In the anger condition, they will fill out the ambiguous questionnaire while waiting for the eye test. As soon as the researcher leaves, the stooge starts complaining, stating that the shot is unfair and that they had no choice. During the questionnaire, the stooge complains and gets mad at certain questions. Any question the stooge doesn’t like will be angrily crossed out. When it gets to sexual practices, the stooge shouts, rips up the paper, and leaves the room
Step 6
(procedure)
In both conditions, the researcher will enter the room before the 20 minutes ends and hand out the questionnaire on feedback of the supplement
Step 7
(procedure)
The participants are debriefed and told they won’t do a test for vision. Since they were suspicious during the study, 11 of the participants’ data was excluded
quantitative data
questionnaires and observations in behavioral checklist
euphoric quantitative data
4 categories - joined with, initiated, ignored, and watched stooge
anger quantitative data
6 categories - agreed with, disagree with, neutral toward, initiated, ignored, and watched stooge
qualitative data
questionnaires (control questions, false symptoms, two about physiological state and 2 about emotional state)
how irritated, angry, or annoyed do you feel?
how good or happy do you feel?
have you experienced any heart palpitations?
do you feel any terror?
Finding #1
In all epinephrine conditions, pulse was increased and more heart palpitations were experienced than in the placebo
Finding #2
Only 5 people in the epinephrine conditions experienced no symptoms
Finding #3
There is no significant difference between the placebo and other conditions, so it serves as a control
Finding #4
In the euphoric self-reports, epi-informed reported less euphoria than misinformed and ignorant
Finding #5
In the anger self-reports, epi-informed had the highest anger score and epi-ignorant had the lowest
Finding #6
For observation, the epi-misinformed had the highest level of euphoric activity and joined in the most with the stooge. The epi-informed had the least activity
Finding #7
For observation, epi-informed had the lowest anger activity and epi-ignorant had the highest
Conclusion #1
All hypotheses are supported
Conclusion #2
The experiment gave evidence for the Two Factor Theory in that emotions must have physiological arousal and emotional appraisal
Ethics
Informed consent was obtained and confidentiality was maintained. Protection from harm was violated because they were injected with an unknown drug and experienced emotional distress. Deception by commission was used in the lying of the purpose of the study, the epinephrine shots being disguised as vitamin supplement, the side effects for the epi-misinformed condition and te use of the stooge. Debriefing took place following the experiment
Strengths #1
The high level of standardization allows for future replication
Strengths #2
A laboratory setting allows for a high level of controls
Strengths #3
The sample of participants is large, allowing for generalization
Strengths #4
The use of independent measures prevents participants from guessing aim
Strengths #5
The use of the one-way mirror minimizes demand characteristics from the researcher
Weakness #1
A laboratory setting lowers ecological validity
Weakness #2
The task of being injected with a shot and filling out questionnaires lacks mundane realism
Weakness #3
There are many ethical concerns
Weakness #4
The gender skew and small age range of the sample makes generalization difficult
Weakness #5
The use of independent measures brings about participant variables such as personality
Application
(issues & debates)
to therapy for helping people better understand their emotions
Nature vs. Nurture
(issues & debates)
Nature is supported in that everyone has physiological experiences of emotions, and nurture is supported in that experiences are used in cognitive labeling
Individual vs. Situational
(issues & debates)
The individual explanation is that physiological arousal is based on emotion people are predisposed to, and the situational explanation is that the physiological arousal was based on the situation they were experiencing - euphoria or anger