AAMC FL Practice Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The Schachter-Singer theory, also known as the two-factor theory of emotion, posits that an emotion is experienced as the result of two key components: physiological arousal and a cognitive label that is assigned to that arousal. According to this theory, when a person encounters a stimulus that induces physiological arousal, they then engage in a cognitive appraisal to label that arousal based on the context of the situation. This cognitive labeling is what ultimately leads to the experience of a specific emotion.

For instance, if an individual sees a bear in the woods, they would experience an increase in heart rate and adrenaline (the physiological arousal). Upon recognizing the bear as a threatening presence, they cognitively interpret that arousal as fear. Thus, the combination of feeling physical arousal and attributing a label to that arousal is essential for the experience of emotion in this framework.

In contrast, the other answer choices do not align with the Schachter-Singer theory's requirements for emotion. Being emotionally stable and socially accepted does not directly relate to the experience of emotion as defined by the two-factor theory. Likewise, perceiving a threat and responding defensively does not account for the necessary cognitive labeling aspect. Lastly, while being aware of social cues can