While riding a harrowing roller coaster, Jim notices that the person sitting next to him is extremely attractive, and he resolves to get her phone number when the ride is over. Jim is probably doing this because he is __________.
A) misattributing his arousal from the roller coaster ride to sexual attraction
B) inferring a social compatibility based on mutual interest
C) correctly inferring, based on introspection, that he is attracted to this person
D) suffering from a mixed mindset because of the excitement from the roller coaster

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The scenario suggests that Jim may be experiencing misattributed arousal, meaning that his heightened physiological response to the roller coaster (increased heart rate, adrenaline, etc.) might be mistakenly interpreted as sexual attraction towards the person sitting next to him. This is a common phenomenon in social psychology, known as the misattribution of arousal.

While Riding a Harrowing Roller Coaster, Jim Notices That the Person