Stanley Schachter

Stanley Schachter (April 15, 1922 – June 7, 1997) was an influential psychologist who is best known for his development of the two-factor theory of emotion. He also made significant contributions to the fields of social psychology and eating behavior.

Early Life and Education

Stanley Schachter was born on April 15, 1922, in Flushing, Queens, New York. He attended Yale University, where he received his B.A. in 1942. He then went on to earn his Ph.D. in Psychology from University of Michigan in 1949.

Career

Schachter began his career as a professor at Columbia University in 1951. He remained at Columbia for the majority of his career, where he conducted much of his groundbreaking research.

Two-Factor Theory of Emotion

Schachter's most well-known contribution to psychology is his two-factor theory of emotion, which he developed with Jerome E. Singer. According to this theory, emotions are determined by two factors: physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation. This theory has had a significant impact on the field of emotion and continues to be influential in current research.

Other Contributions

In addition to his work on emotion, Schachter also conducted research on eating behavior, leading to the development of the externality theory. This theory suggests that people with obesity are more responsive to external food cues than internal hunger cues.

Death and Legacy

Stanley Schachter died on June 7, 1997. His work continues to be influential in the fields of psychology and eating behavior, and his theories are still widely taught in psychology courses today.

See Also

• Two-factor theory of emotion
• Externality theory
• Social psychology
• Eating behavior