| Abstract: | Previous evidence indicates that arousal cues information from memory associated with a similar level of arousal and that people will base judgments on the information that is most available to them. The present authors hypothesized that (a) increases in arousal would increase the likelihood that Ss would interpret positive statements and positive facial expressions as indicating a positive emotion associated with high arousal (joy) rather than a positive emotion associated with low arousal (serenity), and (b) increases in arousal would increase the likelihood that Ss would interpret negative statements and negative expressions as indicating a negative emotion associated with high arousal (anger) rather than a negative emotion associated with low arousal (sadness or depression). Two studies, with 37 adults and 38 students, tested the hypotheses. Results of each study support the 1st but not the 2nd hypothesis. Explanations for why arousal had the predicted effects on positive but not on negative stimuli are offered. (37 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
