James Lange Theory Of Emotion Flashcards
What is the James Lange theory of emotion simple
Event > arousal > interpretation > emotion
Describe how physiological changes occur first.
An event such as a stressor in the environment activates the hypothalamus which instructs the sympathetic nervous system to activate.
• This causes adrenaline to be released creating physiological arousal.
• This is experienced as an increase in body activity such as a faster heart rate.
This is Physiological arousal occurs first.
The brain interprets these physiological changes.
• They tell us what emotion we should be feeling – fear, excitement or even love.
• So the physical change comes first and the labelling of the emotion comes second. The changes cause the emotion.
• No physiological changes = no emotion.
State a strength of James Lange theory of emotion
A strength of the theory is real-life examples.
A fear of public situations (phobia) can develop as a result of the anxiety (emotion) created from falling down in public.
This shows that emotional responses such as fear are a result of physiological arousal like increased heart rate.
State 2 negatives of James Lange theory
A weakness is that the theory is challenged by the Cannon–Bard theory.
We experience some emotions (e.g. embarrassment) at the same time as physiological arousal and not one after the other.
Therefore this theory can explain emotional situations that the James–Lange theory cannot.
A weakness is that the theory is challenged by the two-factor theory.
We need arousal plus social cues to correctly label the emotion we are feeling (Schachter and Singer).
Therefore the James–Lange theory does not explain how a person ‘decides’ what emotion they are experiencing.
