3 Theories on Emotion

1. 3 Theories on Emotion
• James-Lange Theory
• Cannon-Bard Theory
• Two-Factor Theory

2. 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.

3. 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.

5. 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.

7. 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.

9. 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.