Felix sweats profusely just before an interview and feels uncomfortable. He concludes he is nervous. However, his nervousness disappears when he notices the lights are not working in the waiting room. In the context of psychology, which of the following is exemplified in this scenario?

Self-perception theory explains the process in which an individual, lacking in initial attitudes or emotional responses, builds them up by examining their own behavior and coming to conclusions as to what attitude must have triggered that behavior.

This type of theory is counterintuitive. General knowledge would have us suppose that a person’s personality and behavioral pattern drives their actions; however, self-perception theory shows that this is not at all times the case. In simple terms, the theory illustrates that “we are what we do.” And as individuals we interpret our own deeds the manner to which we interpret others’ actions, and our actions are most of the time socially influenced and not triggered out of our own free will.