Critical Essay: Tannenbaum

The article by Tannenbaum (2014) discusses a TV show called Love in the Wild, in which contestants engage in activities designed to be scary or exciting. The article suggests that this increased arousal is likely to make the contestants attribute their feelings to attraction or love.  Published on a blog site advocating the study of testing the causation of misattribution of arousal (Aron and Dutton 1974). Misattribution of arousal refers to the idea that physiological arousal can be perceived to stem from a source that is not actually the cause of the arousal (Williams and Ryckman 1984). The article, however, contains numerous unsubstantiated claims and appeals to authority, which weakens the overall argument. The aim of this essay is to critically analyse the major claims made by Tannenbaum (2014), including her assertions  that feelings are just arousal, misattribution of arousal can occur when multiple stimuli are present, and arousal occurs prior to attribution of meaning. It is contended that arousal causes attraction. The misattribution of arousal is valid and does cause an increased level of attraction within an individual.

The first major claim is that feelings are mainly just arousal (Tannenbaum 2014). Raedeke and Steinn (1994) explain that while arousal is how activated the person feels, feelings are the conscious experience of emotional reactions. For example, an individual walking across a shaky suspension bridge, 200 feet above rocks and shallow rapids, The bridge tilts and wobbles as they cross, making them feel like they could fall over the side with every step. Their palms sweat, and their heart beats. This arousal can be attributed to fear (Tannenbaum 2014).However, feelings can sometimes be deceiving. After experiencing the fear-induced arousal from the bridge, the men all “misattributed”. This arousal turns to sexual attraction when they see the woman immediately after they step off the bridge (Aron and Dutton 1974). This indicated a significant positive correlation between adrenaline and attraction, which means as the level of adrenaline increased, so did the level of attraction. Hence, the more positive valence and high arousal Bliss-Moreau, Williams, and Santistevan (2020). As shown, the authors reported no significant associations  between feelings and arousal. Therefore, there is currently only weak evidence that feelings can mainly be arousal.

Another claim is that misattribution of arousal can occur when multiple stimuli are present (Tannenbaum 2014). Multiple sources of arousal which either increase or decrease the misattribution of arousal( Rule, Ferguson & Nesdale 1979). Misattribution of arousal can occur, as arousal is experienced frequently throughout the day and can influence attitudes, feelings and emotions demonstrated by Pu, et al. (2018). Furthermore, it can also occur because of how feelings in one moment lead into the next to form a stream of conscious experience and construct an emotion or an arousal, as implemented by Shaked and Clore (2017). For example, after the man walked on the shaky suspension bridge and gazed at the lovely lady, he created an arousal that shifted from fear to sexual arousal (Tannenbaum 2014). Misattribution of arousal also occurs when situational cues lead individuals to incorrectly explain the source of their psychological arousal, often in protective ways. For example, individuals report higher confidence in their ability when they can attribute anxiety to subliminal causes (Savitsky , Medvec , Charlton & Gilovich 1998), describing the phenomena where pleasure is derived from the realization that the brain has falsely interpreted an experience as threatening after reaching a place of safety (paul, et al. 2013). The evidence indicates that misattribution of arousal can occur on many levels, with or without multiple stimuli.

Relatedly, Tannenbaum (2014) claims that the arousal occurs prior to attribution of meaning. For the misattribution of arousal to occur, the internal (psychological) and external (stimulus) arousal sources should be rated high, which then should affect individuals' bodily changes. And thus, they are more likely to confuse their physiological arousal with an external source  ( Kever, et al. 2021). For example, a couple heightened attraction to the individual as they rode the roller coaster ride. As shown through their conversations and the amount of physical touch they had with one another is revealed by Meston and Frohlich (2003). Thus, it was found that the intensity of the rollercoaster ride combined with a small amount of fear produced the couple's physical dependence on each other. Furthermore, individuals will experience ambiguous arousal, leading to searching for possible targets that they then label as an explanation in their environment (Tannenbaum 2014). For example, individuals injected with epinephrine experience informed or uninformed arousing effects of the drug and experience the onset of arousal in the presence of a happy or angry confederate investigated by Sinclair, et al. (1994). As shown, evidence indicates that arousal is very crucial for the attribution of meaning.  

As reviewed, there is solid evidence that shows arousal occurs prior to attribution of meaning,  as well as misattribution of arousal can occur when multiple stimuli are present. Relatively little evidence of feelings are mainly just arousal. Further research may involve information about how feelings vary or are similar to arousal, and how they change and lead into one another. In a psychological phenomenon in which individuals attribute their arousal to one stimulus, even though different stimuli have caused it. With larger sample sizes, extended age ranges, standardized training programs, and comparable outcome measures, follow-up periods are required before stating feelings are mainly just arousal.