Emotion as a function of the labeling of interruption-produced arousal

Abstract

The experiment investigated the hypothesis that arousal elicited by interrupting a well-organized response pattern can be differentially manipulated, via confederate-provided cognitions, to be experienced as anger and euphoria. Twenty-five female Ss were individually coached to assemble the game Instant Insanity correctly. Each S played with the game until an organized soluation pattern was established. Subsequently, they were unknowingly exposed to an insolvable version of the game. Upon the occurrence of a criterion acceleration of heart rate (arousal), a confederate was unobtrusively signaled to perform either a euphoric or angry routine. Postexperimental self-ratings indicated that aroused Ss were generally more susceptible to the confederate’s expressed mood. © 1971, Psychonomic Journals, Inc.. All rights reserved.