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Theories of Emotion
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Concept Version 13
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James–Lange Theory of Emotion

According to the James–Lange theory of emotion, emotions arise from physiological arousal. 

Learning Objective

  • Describe the relationship between emotion and arousal according to the James–Lange theory


Key Points

    • The James–Lange theory of emotion asserts that emotions arise as a result of physiological arousal—i.e., that the self-perception of changes in the body produces an emotional experience.
    • According to the James–Lange theory, we experience emotions (such as fear, sadness, and happiness) only after physiological arousal (such as the fight-or-flight response) has occurred.
    • One limitation of the James–Lange theory is that it is not known exactly what causes the changes in the body, so it is unclear whether they should be considered part of the emotion itself. 
    • Critics of the James–Lange theory doubt that there is sufficient variation in physiological arousal to lead to the wide variety of emotions that we experience.

Terms

  • visceral

    Having to do with the response of the body as opposed to the intellect and rational thinking.

  • autonomic

    Acting or occurring involuntarily, outside of conscious control.

  • epinephrine

    A hormone, and a neurotransmitter, that regulates heart rate, blood vessel and air passage diameters, and metabolic shifts and that is a crucial component of the fight-or-flight response of the sympathetic nervous system.

  • proprioceptive

    The sense of the positions of body parts relative to other neighboring body parts.


Full Text

Researchers have developed several theories of how human emotions arise and are represented in the brain. The James–Lange theory of emotion, for instance, asserts that emotions arise from physiological arousal: in essence, that the self-perception of changes in the body produce emotional experiences. According to this theory, we laugh (a physiological response to a stimulus), and consequently we feel happy (an emotion); we cry, and consequently we feel sad.

For example, if you were to encounter a venomous snake in your backyard, your sympathetic nervous system (responsible for activating your fight-or-flight response) would initiate physiological arousal, making your heart race and increasing your breathing rate. According to the James–Lange theory of emotion, you would experience a feeling of fear only after this physiological arousal had taken place. Different arousal patterns would be associated with different feelings.

James–Lange theory

The James–Lange theory of emotion states that emotions arise as a result of physiological arousal.

 

One limitation of this theory is that it is not known exactly what causes the changes in the body, so it is unclear whether those changes should be considered part of the emotion itself. Critics of the James–Lange theory also doubt that there is sufficient variation in physiological arousal to lead to the wide variety of emotions that we experience. To address these limitations, other theories—such as the Cannon–Bard theory—have been developed.

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