Jamesian Aspects of Misattribution Research

Abstract

James's (1884) emotion theory was a precursor of Schachter's (1964) theoretical stance, the viewpoint that formed the basis of subsequent misattribution research. Schachter accepted the Jamesian notion that emotional experience depends on the perception of one's own bodily changes, but he differed from James in assuming that physiological reactions do not inform the individual of hedonic quality. However, several misattribution researchers have implied that hedonic tone can derive immediately from bodily reactions, thereby mixing Jamesian assumptions with Schachter's standpoint. Several pertinent studies are discussed and accommodated within a modified version of Schachter's theory, one which assumes that internal arousal can provide information concerning both the intensity and evaluative quality of affective experience, and that such internal arousal can precede misattribution. Thus, the proposed modification integrates the views of James and Schachter.