excitation-transfer theory

the theory that emotional responses can be intensified by arousal from other stimuli not directly related to the stimulus that originally provoked the response. According to this theory, when a person becomes aroused physiologically, there is a subsequent period of time when the person will experience a state of residual arousal yet be unaware of it. If additional stimuli are encountered during this time, the individual may mistakenly ascribe his or her residual response from the previous stimuli to those successive stimuli. [originally proposed in 1971 by U.S. psychologist Dolf Zillmann (1935– )]

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

October 18th 2024

toluene

n. a volatile solvent that, when chronically inhaled, can cause kidney failure and death. See inhalant.