2. Emotions are our body’s adaptive response.
Theories of Emotion
Emotions are our body’s adaptive response.
Emotions are a mix of 1) physiological activation, 2) expressive behaviors, and 3) conscious experience.
OBJECTIVE 38-1| Identify three components of emotions, and contrast James-Lange, Canon-Bard and two factor theories of emotion.
Psychology 7e in Modules

3. Controversy
Does physiological arousal precede or follow your emotional experience?
Does cognition (thinking) precede emotion (feeling)?
Psychology 7e in Modules

4. (We react to the changes in our body that we feel)
James-Lange Theory
William James and Carl Lange proposed an idea that was diametrically opposed to the common- sense view. James-Lange theory proposes that physiological activity precedes the emotional experience.
(We react to the changes in our body that we feel)

5. Cannon-Bard Theory
Walter Cannon and Phillip Bard questioned James-Lange theory and proposed emotion- triggering stimulus and body's arousal take place simultaneously.
1) Cannon suggested that body’s responses were not distinct enough to evoke different emotions. 2) Physiological responses seemed too slow to trigger sudden emotions.
Psychology 7e in Modules

6. Two-Factor Theory
Stanley Schachter and Jerome Singer proposed yet another theory which suggested that our physiology and our cognitions create emotions. Emotions have two factors– physical arousal and cognitive label.