Theories of Emotion

Have you ever wondered how your emotions are related to your physical reactions? Does your heart beat fast because you're excited, or are you excited because your heart is beating fast?

What if you saw your crush smiling at your direction, what would you feel?  Before answering this question let us first define emotion.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, emotion is a natural instinctive state of mind deriving from one's circumstances, mood, or relationships with others. In simpler words it is a feeling that results in physical and physiological changes that influence thought and behavior. But does it ever cross your mind asking what comes first. Is it the thought?  The physiological arousal or the behavior? Does emotion exist in a vacuum, whether or not these other components are present? 

Psychologists have taken a turn at figuring out how our physiological reactions are connected to emotions. Believe it or not; psychologists have been wondering about this since the nineteenth century, and over time, multiple theories have been developed about the role physiological arousal plays in emotion.

In the late 19th century, William James (1842-1910), who is also known as the father of functionalist psychology, formulated one theory. Around the same time, albeit independently of James, a Danish psychologist named Carl Lange (1834-1900), developed a similar one.

1.      James-Lange theory of emotion

This theory suggests that emotions occur as a result of physiological reactions to events. This means that when 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:

            You saw your crush in a hallway he smiles at your direction and you think it was for you, later you find out that it was for the girl sitting  right next you. Your heart beats fast and you blush.  You interpret the arousal as a preparation for embarrassing situation and you feel embarrassed.

2. The Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion

This theory of Cannon-Bard disagrees with the James-Lange theory of emotion on several different grounds.  This theory of emotions states that we experience physiological arousal and emotion at the same time, but it does not give attention to the role of thoughts or outward behavior.

For example: 

                You saw your crush in a hallway he smiles at your direction and you think it was for you, later you find out that it was for the girl sitting  right next you. Your heart beats fast and you blush. You feel embarrassed.

3.      Schachter-Singer Theory

This theory suggests that the physiological arousal occurs first, and then the individual must identify the reason for this arousal to experience and label it as an emotion. A stimulus leads to a physiological response that is then cognitively interpreted and labeled which results in an emotion.

For example:

            You saw your crush in a hallway he smiles at your direction and you think it was for you, later you find out that it was for the girl sitting  right next you. Your heart beats fast and you blush. You notice this arousal happen because you expect that he smiles at you. You feel embarrassed.

4.     Cognitive Appraisal Theory (Lazarus theory of Emotion)

According to appraisal theories of emotion, thinking must occur first before the experience of emotion or physical arousal. In other words, you must first think about your situation before you can experience an emotion.

For example:

            You saw your crush in a hallway he smiles at your direction and you think it was for you, later you find out that it was for the girl sitting  right next toyou. Upon knowing that he does not smile at you, you think you he may have bad thoughts on you. Your heart beats fast and you blush. You feel embarrassed.

5.      Facial-feedback Theory

According to this theory of emotion, emotion is the experience of changes in our facial muscles. In other words, when we smile, we 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.

 

For example:

            You saw your crush in a hallway he smiles at your direction and you think it was for you, later you find out that it was for the girl sitting right next to you. Your face turns red and you frown..  You interpret the arousal as a preparation for sadness and embarrassing situation and you feel embarrassed.

 

               

References:

AllPsych > Psychology 101 > Chapter 7: Section 3: Emotion, By Dr. Christopher L. Heffner 

http://psychology.about.com/od/psychologytopics/a/theories-of-emotion.htm

_{Cannon, W. B. (1927) The James-Lange theory of emotion: A critical examination and an alternative theory. American Journal of Psychology, 39, 10-124.}

_{Myers, D. G. (2004). Theories of Emotion. Psychology: Seventh Edition. New York, NY: Worth Publishers.}