Theories of Emotion: James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, and Others

Solution Summary

This solution covers the following theories of emotion: the James-Lange theory, the Cannon-Bard theory, the two-factor theory, and the cognitive-mediational theory. It begins by defining them and explaining them in terms of the interactions between their components: an emotion-arousing stimulus (i.e., stimulus), a response of physiological arousal (i.e., arousal), a response of cognitive appraisal (i.e., cognition), and the subjective experience of emotion (i.e., emotion). A common example of a person's emotional reaction to the sound of a gun shot is used to illustrate the components and steps involved in each theory. It concludes with a detailed discussion in which the theories are comprehensively compared and contrasted. References are provided.