ABSTRACT
The role of information search in the attribution of physiological states was investigated by manipulating the subject's opportunity for information search following the presentation of false information about his heart-rate reactions to photographs of female nudes. The hypothesized effect of physiological arousal has been tested in experiments which directly manipulated physiological states, and the importance of the labeling process has been investigated through the manipulation of available explanations for an existing state of arousal. Male introductory psychology students were recruited from classes at Dartmouth College for an experiment on "physiological reactions to visual stimuli," and were randomly assigned to the experimental conditions. In the low-search condition, subjects were given only a minimal amount of time to view the slides during the reinforcement and rating procedures, preventing extensive visual search. During Presentation 2, the reinforcement procedure, each of the five reinforced slides was shown for 5 seconds, with 25-seccnd intervals.
