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Major Theories of Emotion Explained

The document discusses several major theories of emotion from a psychological perspective. It describes emotions as complex states involving physical, psychological, and behavioral changes. The major theories are grouped into physiological, neurological, and cognitive categories. The James-Lange theory and Cannon-Bard theory are discussed as prominent physiological theories, proposing that emotions result from bodily responses to stimuli. The Schachter-Singer Theory is presented as a cognitive theory, suggesting emotions involve interpreting the cause of physiological arousal.

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Rafi Raju
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19 views10 pages

Major Theories of Emotion Explained

The document discusses several major theories of emotion from a psychological perspective. It describes emotions as complex states involving physical, psychological, and behavioral changes. The major theories are grouped into physiological, neurological, and cognitive categories. The James-Lange theory and Cannon-Bard theory are discussed as prominent physiological theories, proposing that emotions result from bodily responses to stimuli. The Schachter-Singer Theory is presented as a cognitive theory, suggesting emotions involve interpreting the cause of physiological arousal.

Uploaded by

Rafi Raju
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Theories of EMOTIONS

RAFI RAJU

In psychology, emotion is often defined as a complex state of feeling that results in physical and psychological changes that influence thought and behavior. Emotionality is associated with a range of psychological phenomena including temperament, Personality, mood and Motivation.

According to author David G. Meyers, human emotion involves "...physiological arousal, expressive behaviors, and conscious experience."

The major theories of motivation can be grouped into three main categories: Physiological Neurological and Cognitive.

Physiological theories suggest that responses within the body are responsible for emotions. Neurological theories propose that activity within the brain leads to emotional responses. Finally, cognitive theories argue that thoughts and other mental activity play an essential role in the formation of emotions.

The James-Lange theory is one of the bestknown examples of a physiological theory of emotion. Independently proposed by psychologist William James and physiologist Carl Lange, the James-Lange theory of emotion suggests that emotions occur as a result of physiological reactions to events.

According to this theory, you see an external stimulus that leads to a physiological reaction. Your emotional reaction is dependent upon how you interpret those physical reactions. For example, suppose you are walking in the woods and you see a grizzly bear. You begin to tremble and your heart begins to race. The James-Lange theory proposes that you will interpret your physical reactions and conclude that you are frightened ("I am trembling, therefore I am afraid").

Another well-know physiological theory is the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion. This theory states that we feel emotions and experience physiological reactions such as sweating, trembling and muscle tension simultaneously. More specifically, it is suggested that emotions result when the thalamus sends a message to the brain in response to a stimulus, resulting in a physiological reaction.

Also known as the twofactor theory of emotion, the Schachter-Singer Theory is an example of a cognitive theory of emotion. This theory suggests that the physiological arousal occurs first, and then the individual must identify the reason behind this arousal in order to experience and label it as an emotion.

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