Theory

Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory of Emotion

The Schachter-Singer two-factor theory posits that emotions arise from two components: physiological arousal and a cognitive label. A key premise is that physiological arousal is often undifferentiated across various emotional states. Therefore, an individual first experiences a general state of physiological arousal and then interprets this arousal within its specific context to apply a cognitive label. This appraisal process determines the specific emotion experienced. For instance, the same physiological response could be labeled as 'fear' or 'joy' depending on the situation, and it is even possible to misattribute arousal to an incorrect emotional experience if the circumstances are misleading.

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Updated 2026-05-02

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