Driving along a dark, rural road, Norma sees a deer jump across the road in front of her.

What theoretical model of emotion is most consistent with Norma's emotional experience?

Answer: b. two-factor

Two-Factor Theory of Emotion

The two-factor theory of emotion, proposed by Stanley Schachter and Jerome Singer in the 1960s, suggests that emotions are composed of two factors: physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation. According to this theory, for us to experience and label an emotion, we first go through a state of physiological arousal, which is then interpreted by our brains to determine the specific emotion we are feeling. In the scenario described, Norma's experience of seeing the deer and subsequently feeling her heart pounding and hands trembling represents the physiological arousal component of the two-factor theory. This physiological arousal is the first step in the process of experiencing an emotion. After experiencing the physiological arousal, Norma then interprets this arousal and labels it as fear or terror. Her statement, "I'm terrified," reflects the cognitive interpretation of the physiological arousal she has experienced. This cognitive interpretation allows Norma to assign a specific emotion to her physiological state. Therefore, Norma's emotional experience of feeling terrified after seeing the deer is most consistent with the two-factor theory of emotion. This theory highlights the importance of both physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation in the experience and labeling of emotions.
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