Appraisal Theory of EmotionAccording to appraisal theory, our interpretation of a situation causes an emotional response that is based on that interpretation. Show
Learning Objectives Explain the main premise of appraisal theory Key TakeawaysKey Points
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Researchers have developed several theories of how human emotions arise and are represented in the brain. The mechanisms behind our experience of emotions and our cognitive processing of them remains a central topic of research and debate. The appraisal theory of emotion, developed primarily through the work of prominent researchers Magda Arnold and Richard Lazarus, proposes that emotions
are extracted from our "appraisals" (i.e., our evaluations, interpretations, and explanations) of events. The central question that the appraisal theory seeks to answer is why different people have different perceptions of and emotional reactions to the same situations. Magda B. ArnoldMagda Arnold (1903–2002) was an American psychologist who coined the term appraisal to refer to the cognitive processes preceding the elicitation of emotion. She developed her “cognitive theory” in the 1960s, which specified that the first step in experiencing an emotion is an appraisal of the situation. According to Arnold, an initial appraisal begins the emotional sequence by arousing both the appropriate physiological reactions and the emotional experience itself. In this way, she identified physiological changes as important to the process but not as the initiator of people's reactions and experiences. Richard LazarusPsychologist Richard Lazarus (1991) adapted Arnold's work slightly in the development of his cognitive-mediational theory, which asserts our emotions are determined by our appraisals of stimuli. This appraisal mediates between the stimulus and the emotional response, and it is immediate and often unconscious. In contrast to the Schachter–Singer theory of emotions, which views emotion as an outcome of the interaction between physiological arousal and cognition, Lazarus argued that the appraisal precedes cognitive labeling, simultaneously stimulating both the physiological arousal and the emotional experience itself. Comparing the theories of emotion: This figure illustrates how Lazarus' appraisal theory differentiates from the James–Lange, Cannon–Bard, and Schachter–Singer theories of emotion. Lazarus argued that the cognitive activity involved in interpreting emotional context could be conscious or unconscious and may or may not take the form of conceptual processing. He stressed that the quality and intensity of emotions are controlled through cognitive processes, which mediate the relationship between the person and the environment through coping strategies, which in turn are the basis of the emotional reaction. Lazarus: Primary and secondary appraisal: According to Lazarus' cognitive-mediational theory, upon encountering a stressor, a person judges its potential threat (via primary appraisal) and then determines if effective options are available to manage the situation (via secondary appraisal). Stress is likely to result if a stressor is perceived as threatening and few or no effective coping options are available. James–Lange Theory of EmotionAccording to the James–Lange theory of emotion, emotions arise from physiological arousal. Learning Objectives
Describe the relationship between emotion and arousal according to the James–Lange theory Key TakeawaysKey Points
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Researchers have developed several theories of how human emotions arise and are represented in the brain. The James–Lange theory of emotion, for instance, asserts that emotions arise from physiological arousal: in essence, that the self-perception of changes in the body produce emotional experiences. According to this theory, we laugh (a physiological response to a stimulus), and
consequently we feel happy (an emotion); we cry, and consequently we feel sad. James–Lange theory: The James–Lange theory of emotion states that emotions arise as a result of physiological arousal. One limitation of this theory is that it is not
known exactly what causes the changes in the body, so it is unclear whether those changes should be considered part of the emotion itself. Critics of the James–Lange theory also doubt that there is sufficient variation in physiological arousal to lead to the wide variety of emotions that we experience. To address these limitations, other theories—such as the Cannon–Bard theory—have been developed. Cannon–Bard Theory of EmotionThe Cannon–Bard theory of emotion argues that physiological arousal and emotional experience occur simultaneously but independently. Learning Objectives Compare the Cannon–Bard theory with the James–Lange theory of emotion Key TakeawaysKey Points
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Researchers have developed several theories of how human emotions arise and are represented in the brain. The Cannon–Bard theory of emotion was developed by researchers who criticized the James–Lange theory for its limited ability to account for the wide variety of emotions experienced by human beings. While the James–Lange theory proposes that emotions arise from physical arousal the Cannon–Bard theory argues that physiological arousal and emotional experience occur simultaneously, yet independently (Lang, 1994). Cannon–Bard theory of emotion: The Cannon–Bard theory states that physiological arousal and emotional experience occur simultaneously, yet independently. This theory posits that when you see a venomous snake in your backyard, you feel fear at exactly the same time that your body initiates its physiological fight-or-flight response. Even though they occur at the same time, your emotional reaction and your physiological reaction would be separate and independent. Schachter–Singer Theory of Emotion (Two-Factor Theory)The Schachter–Singer theory views emotion as the result of the interaction between two factors: physiological arousal and cognition. Learning Objectives Describe the relationship between the "two factors" of two-factor theory, also known as Schachter–Singer theory Key TakeawaysKey Points
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Researchers have developed several theories of how human emotions arise and are represented in the brain. Like the James–Lange and Cannon–Bard theories, the Schachter–Singer
theory of emotion (also known as the two-factor theory) attempts to explain emotion as it relates to physiological arousal. The Schachter–Singer two-factor theory: The Schachter–Singer theory views emotion as resulting from the interaction of two factors: physiological arousal and cognition. For example, if you were to see a venomous snake in your backyard, the Schachter–Singer theory argues that the snake would elicit sympathetic nervous system activation (physiological arousal) that would be cognitively labeled as fear (cognition) based on the context. What you would actually experience, then, would be the feeling of fear. The Facial Feedback HypothesisThe facial feedback hypothesis asserts that facial expressions are capable of influencing our emotions. Learning Objectives Explain the facial feedback hypothesis Key TakeawaysKey Points
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Does smiling make you happy, or does being happy make you smile? The facial feedback hypothesis asserts facial expressions are not only the results of our emotions but are also capable of influencing our emotions. In other words, the act of smiling can itself actually make you feel happier. (Buck, 1980; Soussignan, 2001; Strack, Martin, & Stepper, 1988). The impact of facial expressions: According to the facial feedback hypothesis, facial expressions aren't simply caused by emotions—they can influence our emotions as well. Smiling more frequently over a period of time can, in fact, make you feel happier. Research into the Facial Feedback Hypothesis Research investigating the facial feedback hypothesis has found that suppressing facial expressions of emotion may decrease how intensely those emotions are experienced (Davis, Senghas, & Ochsner, 2009). Autism and Emotional Expression Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a set of
neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by repetitive behaviors and difficulties with communication and social interaction. Children who have ASD have difficulty recognizing the emotional states of others; research has shown that this may stem from an inability to differentiate among various nonverbal expressions of emotion (e.g., facial expressions) (Hobson, 1986). There is also evidence that suggests that individuals with ASD have difficulty expressing their own emotion through tone of
voice and facial expressions (Macdonald et al., 1989). Licenses and AttributionsCC licensed content, Shared previously
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What theory states that emotion and psychological arousal occur at the same time?According to Cannon-Bard theory of emotion, physiological arousal and emotional experience occur simultaneously, yet independently. This theory was proposed in the 1920s and early 1930s by Walter B. Cannon and Philip Bard.
What theory of emotion asserts that emotions arise from physiological arousal?The James-Lange theory of emotion asserts that emotions arise from physiological arousal. Recall what you have learned about the sympathetic nervous system and our fight or flight response when threatened.
What is the main idea of drive theory?Drive theory is based on the principle that organisms are born with certain psychological needs and that a negative state of tension is created when these needs are not satisfied. When a need is satisfied, drive is reduced and the organism returns to a state of homeostasis and relaxation.
Which theory states that a stimulus triggers physiological changes that produce emotion?The Cannon-Bard theory of emotion states that stimulating events trigger feelings and physical reactions that occur at the same time. For example, seeing a snake might prompt both the feeling of fear (an emotional response) and a racing heartbeat (a physical reaction).
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