Unit 8: Emotion Theories

Question 1

Emotions arise from our awareness of our bodily responses to emotion arousing stimuli: stimuli - arousal - emotion. We observe our heart racing after a threat and feel afraid.

Answer 1

James-Lange Theory

Question 2

Emotion-arousing stimuli trigger our bodily responses and simultaneous subjective experiences. Our heart races at the same time that we feel afraid.

Answer 2

Cannon-Bard

Question 3

Our experience of emotion depends on two factors: general arousal and a conscious cognitive label. We may interpret our arousal as fear or excitement, depending on the context.

Answer 3

Schachter-Singer

Question 4

Some embodied responses happen instantly, without conscious appraisal. We automatically feel startled by a sound in the forest before labeling it as a threat.

Answer 4

Zajonc-LeDoux

Question 5

Cognitive appraisal (is it dangerous or not?) sometimes without our awareness defines emotion. (The sound is “just the wind”)

Answer 5

Lazarus