A therapist tells a patient who is afraid of elevators that his rapid breathing while on an elevator is not due to fear but is a natural consequence of too little oxygen in a small,enclosed space.With this new interpretation of his arousal,the patient no longer dreads elevators.The reduction in the patient's fear is best understood in terms of
A) the Cannon-Bard theory.
B) the two-factor theory.
C) the James-Lange theory.
D) sympathetic nervous system activity.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The therapist's explanation that the patient's rapid breathing is a natural consequence of too little oxygen in a small, enclosed space is consistent with the two-factor theory, which proposes that emotions are the result of both physiological arousal and a cognitive interpretation of that arousal. By providing a different interpretation of the patient's arousal, the therapist is able to reduce the patient's fear of elevators. The Cannon-Bard theory proposes that physiological arousal and emotion occur simultaneously but independently, while the James-Lange theory suggests that emotions are the result of perception of physiological arousal. The mention of sympathetic nervous system activity does not provide enough information to determine which theory of emotion is most applicable to this scenario.

A Therapist Tells a Patient Who Is Afraid of Elevators