In the context of theories of emotion, what psychological phenomenon is a psychic claiming to read people's thoughts most likely displaying?

• A. Extrasensory perception (ESP)
• B. Classical conditioning
• C. Emotional contagion
• D. Cognitive dissonance

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the context of the question, which is about theories of emotion and psychological phenomena related to perception or cognition beyond normal sensory experience.
2. Step 2: Review the definitions of the given options: Extrasensory perception (ESP) refers to the ability to acquire information without using the known senses; Classical conditioning involves learning through association; Emotional contagion is the automatic mimicry and synchronization of expressions and emotions; Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort from holding conflicting beliefs.
3. Step 3: Identify that a psychic claiming to read people's thoughts suggests acquiring information beyond the normal sensory channels, which aligns with the concept of Extrasensory perception (ESP).
4. Step 4: Eliminate other options by matching their definitions to the scenario: Classical conditioning, emotional contagion, and cognitive dissonance do not involve perceiving others' thoughts directly.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the psychological phenomenon displayed by the psychic is Extrasensory perception (ESP), as it best fits the description of reading thoughts beyond normal sensory input.