Key Theories of Emotion
Ap Psychology
Michelle Hernandez
Emotions
Emotions are a mixture of three components :
 Physiological arousal (heart pounding)
 Expressive behavior (quicken pace)
 Conscious experience ( include thoughts and
feelings.)
Darwin.

Darwin believed that body movements and facial
expressions (body language, or nonverbal communication)
are used by members of a species to communicate
meaning.

He suggested that although emotional expressions are
initially learned behavior, they eventually evolve to become
innate in a species because they have survival value..

Theories of Emotions
James-Lange theory of
emotion
 The theory states our
experience of emotion is
our awareness of our
physiological response to
an emotion-arousing
stimulus.
 William James is a
psychologist and Carl
Lange proposed that we
feel emotions after we
notice our physiological
response.
Theories of Emotions
Cannon-Bard theory of emotion
 The theory states an emotion-arousing stimulus is
transmitted simultaneously triggers : physiological
arousal and the subject experience emotion.
• This theory implied that your heart
beings pounding as you experience
fear.
•They believed that we feel emotions
at the same time that our bodies
respond.
Theories of emotion
Schachter-Singer theory of emotion
 A two-stage theory stating that for an emotion to
occur, there must be (1) physiological arousal and
(2) cognitively label the arousal.
This theory focuses on
the interplay of thinking
and feeling, not the
timing of feelings.
YOUTUBE VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p
layer_embedded&v=zN-IWlFWyAg#!
Theories of Emotions
Facial Feedback Theory
According to the facial
feedback theory, emotion is the
experience of changes in our
facial muscles.
 In other words, when we
smile, we then experience
pleasure, or happiness. When
we frown, we then experience
sadness. it is the changes in
our facial muscles that cue our
brains and provide the basis of
our emotions. Just as there are
an unlimited number of muscle
configurations in our face, so to
are there a seemingly unlimited
number of emotions.

Lazarus Theory

states that a thought must come before
any emotion or physiological arousal. In
other words, you must first think about
your situation before you can experience
an emotion.
Question 1
Question 2
The psychologists who
claimed that physiological
arousal and emotion are
experienced
simultaneously are
a)
Two and Factor
b)
Stanley Schachter and Jerome
Singer
c)
Sigmund Freud
d)
William James and Carl Lange
e)
Walter Cannon and Philip Bard
2. The two-factor theory of
emotion suggests that
A.
physiological arousal
precedes emotion
B.
emotion depends on
physiological arousal and
cognitive processing
C.
emotion is simultaneously
linked with physiological
arousal
D.
two psychologists
developed it
Correct answers ( move the box)
Question 1 – E
Question 2- B
Question 3
Question 4
Who developed the
James-Lange theory of
emotion?
A. William James and James
Lange
B.
Carl James and Thomas
Lange
C. William James and Carl
Lange
D. Carl James and William
Lange
The theory stating that
physiological arousal
precedes the experience
of emotion is attributed
to
A. Walter Cannon and Philip
Bard
B.
Richard Lazarus
C. Charles Darwin
D. William James and Carl
Lange
E.
Stanley Schachter and
Jerome Singer

3.
C
4. D
Question 5
According to the Cannon-Bard
theory, what is the relationship
between physiological arousal
and the experience of emotion?
A. People experience emotion
because they experience
physiological arousal
B.
The experience of emotion
and physiological arousal occur
simultaneously
C.
People have physiological
arousal because they
experience emotion
D. None of the above
5. B 6. c
Question 6
The statement We are
afraid because we tremble is
explained by which theory
of emotion?
A. Darwin’s theory
B. The two-factor theory
C. The James-Lange theory
D. The Cannon-Bard theory

Question 7
What is the process of
the James-Lange theory
of emotion?
A. Event - emotion physiological response
B. Event - physiological
response - emotion
C. Emotion - physiological
response - event
D. Physiological response emotion - event

7. D
8. C
Question 8

Jimmy just finished the Detroit marathon
and is elated with excitement. As he
walked over to his girlfriend, who he has
not known for very long, he immediately
tells her that he loves her. Later that day,
Jimmy realized that he made a mistake by
telling his girlfriend that he was in love
with her. His dad later explained that all
of the excitement of finishing the
marathon must have confused him. Which
theory of emotion does this provide a
problem for?
A.
James-Lange theory
B.
Cannon-Bard theory
C.
Two-factor theory
Question 9

A.
B.
C.
D.
You are walking down a dark
alley late at night. You hear
footsteps behind you and your
eyes widen, your teeth clench
and your brain interprets these
facial changes as the expression
of fear. Therefore you
experience the emotion of fear.
Facial feedback Theory
Two factor
Cannon –brad Theory
Lazarus thory
9. A
10. D
Question 10
You are walking down a
dark alley late at night. You
hear footsteps behind you
and you think it may be a
mugger so you begin to
tremble, your heart beats
faster, and your breathing
deepens and at the same
time experience fear.
A. James-lange Theory
B. Two-Factor theory
C. Cannon-brad Theory
D. Lazarus Thoery

Cication
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/Ea
rly-Theories-of-Emotion.topicArticleId25438,articleId-25365.html
 http://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/ps
ych101/emotion/section1.rhtml
 http://allpsych.com/psychology101/emotio
n.html
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