Epinephrine, Arousal, and Emotion: A New Look at Two-factor Theory

Abstract

This study addressed criticisms of Schachter and Singer's classic experiment on determinants of emotional state. Twenty-six male students were given a titrated injection of either epinephrine or saline and misinformed about symptoms. Subjects then viewed six film clips which are known to induce anger, fear, or amusement. Physiological responses to the film clips were measured and facial expressions were recorded. Subjects also rated their emotional responses to the film clips. Epinephrine subjects demonstrated greater physiological arousal and emotional intensity, phenomenologically and facially, than control subjects. For the fear films, epinephrine subjects expressed more fear than control subjects. Epinephrine and control subjects did not differ on expressed anger to the anger films or amusement to the amusement films. N onvalenced arousal was consistently rated more intense by epinephrine subjects than control subjects.