Psychology & Sociology
Four major theories of emotion are: the James-Lange theory, the Cannon-Bard theory, the Schachter-Singer theory, and the Lazarus theory. These theories differ in how emotions occur and involve specific stimuli, which can be anything a person encounters through their senses, physiological responses, such as changes in heart rate or sweating, and subjective internal responses, like fear or joy.
The James-Lange theory proposes that a physiological reaction to a stimulus leads to an internal feeling. The Cannon-Bard theory suggests that physiological responses and feelings occur simultaneously. The Schachter-Singer theory, or the two-factor theory, posits that a a physiological response to a stimulus causes one to interpret the situation, which then dictates the internal feeling. Lastly, the Lazarus theory emphasizes that appraising or interpreting a situation dictates feelings, which then cause a physiological response. Appraisal can be primary, evaluating whether a situation is threatening or irrelevant, or secondary, which involves assessing whether one has the resources and coping strategies to handle the situation.
Lesson Outline
<ul> <li>Introduction to theories of emotion <ul> <li>Stimuli, physiological responses, and internal feelings</li> <li>Differences between theories lie in the order of these responses</li> </ul> </li> <li>James-Lange theory <ul> <li>Physiological reaction comes first, followed by feeling</li> </ul> </li> <li>Cannon-Bard theory <ul> <li>Physiological responses and feelings occur simultaneously</li> </ul> </li> <li>Schachter-Singer theory (Two-factor theory) <ul> <li>Stimulus induces physiological response, followed by interpretation, which leads to feeling</li> </ul> </li> <li>Lazarus theory <ul> <li>Stimulus leads to appraisal of environment based on past experiences</li> <li>Appraisal determines feelings, which then initiates a physiological response</li> <li>Primary and secondary appraisal <ul> <li>Primary appraisal: Evaluating whether a situation is threatening</li> <li>Secondary appraisal: Assessing resources and coping strategies to handle the situation</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul>
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FAQs
The James-Lange theory of emotion is the idea that emotions are caused by physiological responses to a stimulus. According to this theory, when a person encounters an emotionally charged stimulus, their body reacts with various physiological responses such as increased heart rate or muscle tension. The brain then perceives these physiological changes and interprets them as a specific emotion. In other words, emotions are the result of perceiving and interpreting our body's physiological reactions to a stimulus.
The Cannon-Bard theory offers an alternative explanation for the relationship between emotions and physiological responses. Unlike the James-Lange theory, which suggests that emotions are the result of perceiving physiological responses to a stimulus, the Cannon-Bard theory proposes that physiological responses and feelings occur simultaneously. According to this theory, when a person encounters an emotionally-charged stimulus, both their emotional reaction and physiological responses happen at the same time, and neither causes the other.
The Schachter-Singer theory, also known as the two-factor theory, combines aspects of both the James-Lange and Cannon-Bard theories by suggesting that emotions are the result of both physiological responses and cognitive appraisal of a situation. According to this theory, when a person encounters an emotionally-charged stimulus, their body reacts with physiological responses, while their brain also appraises the situation to determine the feeling. Both factors – the physiological responses and cognitive appraisal – are necessary for the experience of emotion.
In the Lazarus theory, cognitive appraisal plays a central role in the experience of emotion. According to this theory, when a person encounters a stimulus, they first make an automatic, unconscious appraisal of its emotional significance. This appraisal is based on the individual's past experiences, knowledge, and beliefs. If the appraisal concludes that the stimulus is emotionally significant, the individual will experience an emotion, and then a physiological response. The main idea behind the Lazarus theory is that an emotion is the result of cognitive appraisal of the stimulus, meaning that the interpretation of the stimulus is what gives rise to the emotional experience, rather than the physiological responses alone.
While both the Schachter-Singer theory and Lazarus theory emphasize the importance of cognitive appraisal in the experience of emotion, they differ in the way they describe the appraisal process. In the Schachter-Singer theory, the cognitive appraisal process interacts with physiological responses in the experience of emotion. The appraisal itself is influenced by the physiological responses, as the brain uses these responses as cues to identify the emotion. In the Lazarus theory, cognitive appraisal occurs before the emotional experience and physiological response, and it is an automatic, unconscious process. The appraisal in Lazarus theory does not need the physiological responses in order to identify the emotion, as it is based on the individual's prior experiences, knowledge, and beliefs.
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