Psychology I / Theories of Emotion
Practice question · Multiple choice

Men who met a woman on a swaying suspension bridge were far more likely to call her afterwards than men who met her on a solid one. What does two-factor theory claim happened, and what is the strongest objection?

Hints
  1. Two-factor theory says arousal supplies intensity and cognition supplies the label. Apply that to a racing heart on a swaying bridge.
  2. Ask who chooses to cross a frightening bridge in the first place.
Show the answer

B. The bridge produced arousal the men labelled as attraction.

Why

A pounding heart on a swaying bridge needs interpreting, and the most salient thing available is an attractive person asking questions. The objection is selection: nobody was assigned to a bridge, and men who cross precarious ones may differ. The finding survives because the effect reproduces where assignment is controlled, arousal from exercise, misattributed the same way.

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