theories of emotion

• James-Lange Theory


  -          1884 to 1885

  -          the theory argued that emotional feelings follow body arousal

  -          a person, who may see a snake, can shake, is aroused, and the feel fear as he becomes aware of his body reactions
• Cannon-Bard Theory


  -          1927

  -          the theory proposed that emotional feelings and bodily arousal are both organized by the brain

  if the snake is seen as dangerous, then bodily arousal, running and feelings of fear will all be generated at the same time

  -          seeing the snake activates the thalamus which in turn alerts both cortex and the hypothalamus for action

  -    the cortex is responsible for emotional feelings and emotional behavior

  -    the hypothalamus thus, is responsible for arousing the body
• Schachter’s Cognitive Theory of Emotion


  -          1971

  -          Stanely Schachter realized that cognitive (mental) factors also enter into emotion

  -          the theory assumes that when an individual is aroused: he has a need to interpret his feelings

  -          emotions occurs when a particular label is applied, the label (anger, fear, or happiness) applied to bodily arousal is influenced by past experience, his situation, and the reaction of others
• The Evolutionary Perspective


  -          the evolutionary perspective started in the late 19th century with Charles Darwin’s publication of a book on the expression of emotions in man and animals

  -          Darwin’s original idea was that emotion evolved via natural selection for reasons of warning other creatures about their intentions

  -          Darwin also argued that for man, emotions were no longer functional, but are functional associated habits

  -          other research in this area focuses on physical displays of emotion include body language of animals and facial expression of human