In 1974, psychologists found men were more likely to mistake fear for attraction after crossing a high, swaying suspension bridge

June 20, 2026 - 09:19

In 1974, two psychologists set up an unusual experiment on a pair of bridges in British Columbia. One was a sturdy, low-level crossing. The other was a terrifying, swaying suspension bridge that hung 230 feet above a rocky canyon. The researchers wanted to test a simple idea: could a pounding heart from fear be mistaken for romantic attraction?

They stationed an attractive female interviewer at the end of each bridge. As men crossed, she asked them to fill out a short questionnaire. Afterward, she gave them her phone number in case they wanted to hear more about the study. The results were striking. Men who crossed the scary bridge were far more likely to call her later. They also wrote more sexual imagery in their answers to a story prompt.

The study became a classic example of the "misattribution of arousal" theory. The idea is that the body's physical signals -- a fast heartbeat, sweaty palms -- are not always specific to one emotion. The brain has to interpret them. If you are on a shaky bridge, your brain knows you are scared. But if a stranger asks you a personal question right after, the brain can get confused. It might label that same racing pulse as attraction.

This single experiment has been cited for decades in textbooks and pop psychology articles. It suggests that the line between fear and love is thinner than we think. A date at a horror movie or a roller coaster might not just be fun. It might be a way to trick the brain into feeling a spark. The study remains a powerful reminder that our emotions are not always as clear as they feel. Sometimes, a shaky bridge is just a shaky bridge. But sometimes, it is the start of a story.