Which theory posits that emotion is based on physiological arousal and cognitive labeling?

• A. Cannon-Bard Theory
• B. Lazarus Theory
• C. Schachter-Singer Theory
• D. James-Lange Theory

Answer: (C)

Emotion, in this view, comes from a combination of bodily arousal and the mind’s interpretation of that arousal. The body may show a general state of arousal—like a racing heart or sweaty palms—but what you feel emotionally depends on how you label that arousal within the situation. If you’re in a dangerous context, the arousal is labeled as fear; in a thrilling, positive setting, the same level of arousal might be labeled as excitement. This idea—that arousal provides intensity and cognitive labeling provides the specific emotion—distinguishes it from theories that rely on arousal alone or that separate arousal from emotion without labeling. Classic experiments where participants were given a drug that increases arousal and then placed with someone displaying a happy or angry mood show that people’s emotional experience can be guided by how they interpret their arousal in the moment, supporting this two-factor approach.