Wize University Psychology Textbook > Emotion & Motivation
Theories of Emotion
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Theories of Emotion
Theories of emotion attempt to explain the relationship between stimuli, physiological arousal, and the subjective experience of emotion
James-Lange Theory of Emotion - the experience of emotion occurs after the awareness of physiological responses to emotion-arousing stimuli.
Facial-Feedback Hypothesis - emotions are dependent on a facial expression that is characteristic of that particular emotion.
Canon-Bard Theory of Emotion - emotion-arousing stimuli simultaneously trigger physiological responses and subjective experience of emotions. This response originates in the thalamus (i.e., the brain). This theory can explain why we respond to emotions without necessarily being consciously aware for them.
Two-Factor Theory (Schachter and Singer) - in order to experience emotion one must be physically aroused and cognitively label the arousal. That is, we attribute arousal to the context in which it occurs.
Practice: Theories of Emotion
Sam and Max are on a first date and go for a walk on a shaky suspension bridge. Their heart
rates increase, sweating increases, and breathing gets shallower. Instead of realizing that this is
a fear response, they both interpret it as increased attraction and excitement. This is most
consistent with which theory of emotion?