Asked by Arashdeep Singh on May 12, 2024

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Erica saw her old boyfriend and her heart began to race. According to cognitive arousal theory, is she happy to see him or frightened of him?

A) She is frightened because her emotional reaction came before her heart began to race.
B) You cannot tell because she is not displaying a basic emotion.
C) It depends on how she interprets the situation.
D) She must be frightened because her heart began to race before she reacted emotionally.

Cognitive Arousal Theory

A framework suggesting that cognitive processes, such as expectations and interpretations, can influence the level and experience of arousal.

  • Understand the impact of physical states and environments on emotional interpretation.
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Tarek MnawerMay 14, 2024
Final Answer :
C
Explanation :
According to cognitive arousal theory, the interpretation of a situation determines the emotion experienced. Therefore, it is impossible to determine whether Erica is happy or frightened without knowing how she interprets seeing her old boyfriend.