More Sex!

16 April 2003

• Schachter & Singer, 1962– 2-factor theory of emotion

• 2 things make up an emotion:– Physiological arousal– An attribution re. the source of that arousal

• For love:– “my heart is pounding” (physiological state)– “look at that hottie over there!!! I must be in

love!!!!” (appropriate love object)

Two-Factor Theory of Love

Dutton & Aron’s Two-Factor Theory of Love Studies

• 2 IV’s– Arousal (suspension bridge vs low secure bridge)– Attractive object (“stunning” young woman vs.

ordinary guy)

• All subjects are male• 2 DV’s

– TAT coded for sexual imagery– % of subjects who call for “more information”

Dutton & Aron Method (Expt 1)

GLORIA AL

Phone TAT Phone TAT

Susp.

Bridge

39% 2.47 9% 0.8

Low

Bridge

9% 1.41 5% 0.61

Dutton & Aron Results (Expt 1)

DV (phone) = % calling for “more info”

DV (TAT) = amount of sexual imagery used in TAT story, on a scale of 1 to 4

• Confound in expt 1: – Self-selection

• Expt 2 eliminates this by using only the Capilano (suspension) bridge

• Gloria or Al approach people either– Several minutes after they get off the

bridge– In the middle of the bridge

Dutton & Aron Method (Expt 2)

GLORIA ALPhone TAT Phone TAT

Middle of bridge

39% 2.47 9% 0.8

Parking lot

9% 1.41 5% 0.61

Dutton & Aron Results (Expt 2)

• Take it to the lab!!!• Males threatened with weak or severe electric

shock (= arousal)• In waiting room, meet attractive female

confed (disguised as another subject)• How much would you like to date her?

– Strong shock > > Weak shock

• How much would you like to kiss her?– Strong shock > > Weak shock

Dutton & Aron (Expt 3)

But….

• This misattribution of arousal isn’t always found

• Kenrick & Cialdini: the presence of others calms us down

• men in the bridge/shock studies may have liked the “stunning” young woman because they associated her with a reduction in fear/anxiety

But…. Cont’d

• Kenrick & Cialdini expt– Males run in place for

either 15 secs or 2 mins

– THEN immediately see a video of either:

• A highly attractive woman

• An unattractive woman0

2

4

6

8

10

15 sec 2 min

attractive unattractive

So: Alternate explanation

• Maybe arousal just facilitates ANY reaction

• Animal literature supports this…

• Moral of the story

The Value of Physical Attractiveness:“Attractiveness is Good” Heuristic (Dion & Dion)

The Pratfall Effect• Can you be TOO

attractive?• Trivia Bowl Expt

(Aronson):– IV’s: Competence (hi vs lo); End of tape (no event vs spill coffee)

– DV: Attractiveness vs Unattractiveness of contestant

Trivia Bowl Results

0

2

4

6

8

10

control pratfall

attractive unattractive

Self-Monitoring andConcern for Attractiveness

• High self-monitors are more concerned with the physical attractiveness of their dates than are low self-monitors

• Expt: importance of resume vs picture– DV: seconds looking at

picture vs resume

picture resume

hi SM lo SM