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Cannon's theory of emotion as a mobilization of the organism for greater muscular effort is subjected to a revealing analysis by Arnold. Several discrepancies between the conditions required by Cannon's theory and experimental findings are noted. Specifically, the evidence for Cannon's views was based on the observations that fear and anger increased adrenalin secretion and that adrenalin restores fatigued nerve muscle preparations. It has now been shown that the adrenals secrete two substances, adrenalin and cortin. The latter rather than adrenalin is presumably the substance with which Cannon was dealing. Evidence shows that adrenalin has a depressant action, both centrally and peripherally. Its apparent energizing effect is due to parasympathetic stimulation which may be masked by large doses with resultant fatigue rather than stimulation.
Other considerations of adrenalin activity relevant to the mobilization view of emotion are discussed, i.e., vasoconstrictor effect, glycogenolytic action, effect on heart rate and polycythemia, and heat regulation. Arnold has presented a convincing, well developed argument for viewing fear as enervating instead of energizing. She further distinguishes between fear, anger, and excitement (elation) on a physiological level: fear is predominantly sympathetic excitation; anger, strong parasympathetic activity; and excitement, moderate parasympathetic activity.