PSY 11: Theories of Emotion

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Theories of emotion
A person walks alone late at night and hears footsteps behind him. The person will emotionally react to such a situation. Schacter-Singer theory, Cannon-Bard theory and James-Lange theory are major theories of emotions, which are used to give a prediction of the sequential events, which will occur as a person experiences reaction to such situation.
Based on James-Lange theory, emotions happen as a consequence of physiological reactions to events. Experiencing an external stimulus causes a physiological reaction. Emotional reactions of an individual depend on how he interprets these physical reactions (Morris and Maisto 343). The individual begins shivering, breathing deeply and is tensed when he hears footsteps. Morris and Maisto present that a person will experience these physiological changes and then will interpret that his body is prepared for a fearful situation (343). According to James-Lange theory, the individual will interpret his physical reactions and make a conclusion that he is frightened. He will be aware that he is trembling, and hence becomes afraid. In this theory, only after physical reaction is experienced, a person can experience emotion.
According to the Cannon-Bard theory, emotions are experienced based on the physiological reactions which a person’s body displays; these processes happen concurr...