The field of emotion research holds a number of conceptual questions, such as what exactly emotions are or how do conscious experiences of emotion and their physiological responses interplay. Three theories best plot the contrasts of this relationship; the common sense theory, the James-Lange theory and the Canon-Bard theory. The common sense theory states that the perception of a threatening stimulus facilitates the feeling of an emotion leading to corresponding bodily changes (Cameron & Jago, 2008). James-Lange theory, a direct opposition of the common sense theory, argues for emotion facilitation as a response to our physiological changes (Lang, 1994). Finally, Cannon-Bard’s theory assigns a joint responsibility to physiological …show more content…
Despite the association between emotional experiences and bodily changes had been around since Darwin’s descriptions of arousal-specific bodily responses (Darwin, 1872), James and Lange were the first to suggest that experiencing an emotion is driven by the changes in our autonomic nervous system (ANS) that were elicited by perceived stimuli. Furthermore, despite a vast amount of criticism, they highlighted the necessity of physiological changes in order for a full emotional experience to be experienced (Prinz, 2004). Many studies have therefore focused on the assumption of necessity of physiological feedback, without which no emotion should be felt. As such, researchers focused on either artificially probing emotional states by the use of adrenergic drugs such as ephedrine (Erdmann & Janke, 1978) or explored the ability to perceive emotions in patients with ANS failure (Heims, Critchley, Dolan, Mathias, & Cipolotti, 2004) or partial paralysis (Chwalisz, Diener, & Gallagher, 1988). While some of these findings were indeed supportive of the James-Lange theory, such as a greater emotional response with ephedrine compared to without it, others suggested an increase in emotional response in patients with a specific physiological injury. Understandably, these studies are important to explore the necessity and reversed causation of
In class we discussed the three main theories of emotion: the James Lange, Cannon Bard, and the Two Factor. The James Lange theory believes people's emotions follow, rather than cause, behavioral reactions to situations. The Cannon-Bard theory suspects emotions accompany the bodily responses that are aroused by an external stimulus. Similarly, the Two Factor theory believes an emotion is
Identify which theory of emotion you think is the most valid. What makes this theory more valid to you than the others? Identify which theory of emotion you think is least valid. What makes this theory less valid? Your response should be at least 300 hundred words. The four major theories of emotion: James-Lange, Cannon-Bard Facial-feedback and Schechter’s two-factor; emphasize different sequences or aspects of the three elements of emotion cognitions, arousal and expression. The Cannon-Bard theory is most valid in my opinion, the theory holds that all emotions are physiologically similar and arousal, cognitions, and expression occur simultaneously. Arousal is not necessary in this theory. Both Cannon and Bard propose the Thalamus gland in the brain sends signals to the cerebral cortex and the ANS; in return the messages to the cortex produce the cognitive experience of emotion. In contrast, the Facial-feedback theory is the main culprit of our emotions, I do not agree with this theory; I believe facial expressions are a result of what we are feeling inside within our emotions. The face is what we can associate to a specific feeling or emotion. That is how we can tell when someone is feeling sad, or is afraid. I believe each theory holds a bit of truth, but to which one is completely right I s not possible. They are theories and they can be tested and tried and the most positive and negative reports concluded, but they can never be proven. Out of these four theories,
The four major theories of emotion are the James-Lange theory, the Cannon-Bard theory, the Schacter-Singer theory, and the Lazarus theory. The James-Lange theory claims that an event first causes physiological arousal and also a physical response. It is not until then that the person interprets the physical response as an emotion. The Cannon-Bard theory states that emotion -provoking stimuli are received by the senses and are then relayed simultaneously to the cerebral cortex, which provides the conscious mental experience of the emotion, and to the sympathetic nervous system, which produces the physiological state of arousal. The Schacter-Singer theory states that for an emotion to occur there must first be a physiological arousal, and second there must be an explanation for the arousal. The Lazarus theory is the theory that an emotion-provoking stimulus triggers a cognitive appraisal, which is followed by the emotion and physiological arousal. The most valid theory of emotion is the Cannon-Bard theory. He says that being afraid of something not only constitutes emotional fear, but it also brings about a rapid heartbeat. Concurring with the Cannon-Bard theory, we have a many different nerve systems within the human body that can be triggered simultaneously. This theory is more valid then the rest simply because of the adrenaline that is release into your body when excited or in the mist of eminent danger. The
Attempts to define “emotion” have proved to be rather difficult. Instead of searching for a comprehensive definition, Gross (2011) describes the three core features of emotions. First, emotions occur when an individual decides that a situation is relevant to his or her goals. Second, emotions are multi-faceted, and involve both subjective and physiological experiences, as well as behaviors. The third feature involves the authoritative nature of emotions. They have the powerful ability to interrupt ongoing processes, assert their priority over other activities, and force their way into awareness. For example, some traditions describe emotions as “disorganized interruptions of mental activity” (Salovey & Mayer, 1989). Emotions are such an
Emotions are often thought to be personal. One may say “I am sad.” or “I am mad.” or I am scared.” and frequently we believe those emotions are inhabiting just the body in which they were created.
When it comes to emotion it comes all natural when it comes sensation and perception it mentions emotion threat I tends to set influences how we interpret stimuli situations. Emotion our driving force in our daily lives it goes thought the brain and our body.as in the book sayswhen the stress dies down (the speech is over), your parasympathetic nervous system will calm you, conversing your energy as it decreases your heartbeat, loers your bllodsuger, and so on.”neverhelss sympathetic nerous system would be the opposite of parasympathetic It demonstrates and show overlaps with motivation to the situation it would arouse you more enertic and wil increase our heartbeat. Which is like dopamine which influences movemtn, learing, attention and emotion.
However, Cannon – Brad theory argues against the initial idea by James – Lange and claims that emotion and our body experience work independently from each other and neither of them is caused by the other. “This means that our brain cannot just rely on our bodily responses to know which emotion we are experiencing… Both the experience of the emotion and the bodily response occur at the same time independently of each other.” (Sato, 2010)
A few seconds of elevated heart rate is common before feeling a sense of pride, infatuation, love and maternal love. From an evolutionary perspective, the emotion of fear protected humans from predators and other threats to the survival of the species. So it is no wonder that certain dangers evoke that emotion, since fear helps protect you and is therefore adaptive, functional, and necessary. However, there is another important aspect of emotions to consider that, in the case of fear, may be important to decision-making as well as
In other word an event triggers a physiological reaction, which we then interpret, and emotions are caused by our interpretations of these physiological reactions. This is truth because when we are in dangers we run because we fear to what could happen to us this is mental perceptions, and emotions are often accompanied by bodily responses.
Researchers have debated about the phenomenon with emotions. Debates on this topic have and will continue to for many more years. Researchers have attempted to understand why one has emotions and came up with the five different theories. The first theory is the James-Lange theory, which argues that an event can cause physiological arousal first and, it can be interpret this as an arousal. Second theory is the Cannon-Bard theory that argues that all humans experience a physiological arousal and an emotional one at the same time. It still does not give any attention to the role of the thoughts or an outward
1. Physiological Specificity. This theory suggests that with each emotion we have, there is a physiological response that is either the cause or caused by our emotions (page 121). In accordance with this theory, anger and happiness are distinguishable by the different physiological components active during these emotions. It also suggests that by changing our physiology slightly we can also help to alter how we feel our emotions.
Chapter 1 explains the work of a Harvard psychologist named William James. William published the article “What is an Emotion?” in a philosophical journal entitled Mind in 1884. His paper is an argument for the primacy and necessity of bodily systems in producing emotional feelings. James-Lange theory states that physiological arousal instigates the experience of emotion. A Harvard physiologist, Walter Cannon, roundly criticized James’ theory, claiming that, according to the Cannon Bard theory, physiological changes follow emotional expression.
It is a well-known fact that different factors affect on human behavior as well as various aspects of people’s life. Among them the emotions detect a powerful force on humans. Strong emotions may cause people to take actions they might not perform as usual, or obviate situations that they generally enjoy. Psychologists, researchers, and philosophers have proposed a set of different theories that explain how and why people experience the emotions. I have chosen two theories of emotion that I am interested in such as: the James-Lange Theory of Emotion and the Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion. This paper describes those theories by comparing and contrasting them; discusses the theory that I agree with and explain the reasons of it.
When talking about emotion it seems a fairly simple topic and immediately "feeling" words come to mind; sad, happy, and confused. These are basic emotions and easy to understand. What isn't so simple about emotions is their process and how they form and work. Emotions are reactions to sensory information like sight, smell, taste, touch and sound (Tracing Emotion’s Pathways 94). However, it is not that simple; an emotional reaction or response is made aware of and understood by a part of the brain called the sensory cortex. These emotional responses or reactions to sensory stimuli are processed by a part of the brain called the amygdala (What’s An Emotion). The amygdala is a huge asset to the cognitive factors of emotions because in processing emotions you become able to understand, recognize, and control them. So then how do emotions evoke a physiological reaction such as tearing up when one feels sad, laughing with joy, and trembling with fear? These physiological reactions that one may experience come from the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is, “a collection of fibers that extend throughout
This proposition is deceivingly simple at first, and can be summarized fairly quickly. James theorizes that the common idea that stimuli beget the arousal of an emotion, which in turn causes physiological responses, is in fact incorrect. Instead, James asserts that stimuli elicit physiological changes in the human body, which in turn and in combination, are perceived as an “emotion.” Concisely put, emotions are the perception of physiological changes in response to a stimuli. James limits his definition of an emotion to include only “those that have a distinct bodily expression,” such as contortions of the face in anger, or production of tears when sad (James, 1884). These bodily expressions are not limited to conscious physiological changes, but also include those controlled by