Effects of Fear Appeals and Physiological Arousal upon Emotions, Attitudes, and Cigarette Smoking.

Conducted 2 experiments to conceptually replicate S. Schachter's (1964) theory of the determinants of emotion and to test the feasibility of extending the theory to attitudes and behavior that may be mediated by the emotion of fear. A total of 279 cigarette smokers under age 35 were administered either epinephrine or a placebo and then exposed to situational cues suggestive of disparate emotional states (Exp I) or different intensities of the same emotion (Exp II). Contrary to predictions based upon Schachter's theory, manipulated physiological arousal was not necessary for emotional labeling and under some conditions elicited fear. The situational cues affected emotion and attitudes. Higher levels of fear appeals strengthened intentions to quit smoking, and reassurance of the efficacy of stopping smoking reduced cigarette consumption. (31 ref)