Question

A therapist tells a patient who is afraid of elevators that his rapid breathing while on an elevator is not because of 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. sympathetic nervous system activity.
b. the james-lange theory.
c. the two-factor theory.
d. the cannon-bard theory.

Answer 1

The reduction in the patient's fear is best understood in terms of c)the two-factor theory of emotion, which states that emotions are composed of physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reduction in the patient's fear can be best understood in terms of the two-factor theory of emotion. According to this theory, emotions are composed of two factors: physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation. In the given scenario, the therapist reframes the patient's rapid breathing as a natural consequence of too little oxygen in a small enclosed space, unrelated to fear. This cognitive reinterpretation of the patient's arousal leads to a reduction in fear. The two-factor theory suggests that our interpretation of physiological arousal influences our emotional experience.