James Lange theory of emotion

• A theory of emotion that suggests our experience of physiological changes come first, which the brain then interprets as emotion.
• Example


  When tripping on the stairs, our heart starts to pound and our brain interprets that as fear.
• Process of emotion 


  Emotion - Arousal - Interpretation - Emotion
• Lange suggested that if there are no physiological changes in the body or if these are not noticed then no emotion will be experienced