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3 Theories on Emotion• James-Lange Theory• Cannon-Bard Theory• Two-Factor Theory
James-Lange Theory
• Willam James and Carl Lange came up with the James-Lange Theory of Emotion.
• We feel emotion because of biological changes caused by stress.
• The body changes and our mind recognizes the feeling.
How do psychologists describe emotions?
• The James-Lange Theory–people’s emotions follow, rather than cause, their behavioral reactions to their situations
EXAMPLE: You are walking down a dark alley late at night. You hear footsteps behind you and you begin to tremble, your heart beats faster, and your breathing deepens. You notice these physiological changes and interpret them as your body's preparation for a fearful situation. You then experience fear.
Cannon-Bard Theory• Say James-Lange theory is
full of crap.• How can that be true if
similar physiological changes correspond with drastically different emotional states.
• The physiological change and cognitive awareness must occur simultaneously.
• They believed it was the thalamus that helped this happen.
How do psychologists describe emotions?
• The Cannon-Bard Theory–emotions accompany the bodily responses that are aroused by an external stimulus
EXAMPLE: You are walking down a dark alley late at night. You hear footsteps behind you and you begin to tremble, your heart beats faster, and your breathing deepens. At the same time as these physiological changes occur you also experience the emotion of fear.
Two-Factor Theory• Stanley Schachter explains
emotions more completely than the other two theories.
• They happen at the same time but…
• People who are already physiologically aroused experience more intense emotions than unaroused people when both groups are exposed to the same stimuli.
• Biology and Cognition interact with each other to increase the experience.
