The plastic yield and fracture of rubber-modified polystyrene specimens under tensile load have been investigated at room temperature. The experimental procedure consisted of rapidly alternating measurements of transmitted and emitted infrared (IR) radiation from samples under tensile stress. The load-displacement data were simultaneously recorded. Both single-edge-notched and dog-bone-shaped test coupons were studied. In each tensile test run, we observed a significant decrease of material transparency in the IR which occurred near the low yield point. A further increase in material deformation was accompanied by a substantial temperature increase. After material failure, the surface morphology of the test specimens in the vicinity of the crack was examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Our results are explained in the context of existing models of material crazing.