Two-Factor & Appraisal
Stanley Schachter and Jerome Singer proposed the Two-Factor Theory in 1962: emotion requires BOTH physiological arousal AND a cognitive LABEL drawn from the context. In their classic study, adrenaline-injected participants placed with a euphoric or irritated confederate adopted that state when they lacked a true explanation for their arousal.
This explains misattribution of arousal, as in the Capilano Suspension Bridge study (Dutton & Aron, 1974), where men crossing a high, wobbly bridge misattributed lingering arousal to attraction toward a female interviewer.
| Theory | Core claim |
|---|---|
| James-Lange | Arousal, then emotion follows |
| Cannon-Bard | Arousal and emotion occur simultaneously |
| Schachter-Singer | Arousal PLUS a cognitive label |
Appraisal & Pitfalls
Richard Lazarus's cognitive appraisal theory argues that an appraisal — even a rapid, automatic one — must occur BEFORE emotion arises. The same physical bump can trigger fear or amusement depending entirely on how the situation is appraised.
Common pitfall: assuming the two-factor theory says the LABEL alone creates emotion without arousal. Schachter and Singer require BOTH ingredients together; neither factor is sufficient on its own.