The James-Lange theory proposes that emotional experiences arise from our physiological responses to external events, rather than direct causes of those responses. Specifically, the theory claims that we experience emotions because we detect changes in our body through the autonomic nervous system in response to a stimulus, and our brain interprets those changes as different emotions. For example, we feel fear because we notice our increased heart rate and trembling in response to a perceived threat. The theory was criticized by researchers who argued that physiological responses are actually caused by emotional experiences, rather than the other way around.

1. James Lange
Theory Of
Emotions

2. James LangeTheory Of Emotion
Introduction:
Earliest theory of emotion .
American Psychologist
In 1980s James and Lange
Independently propose idea that
challenge common sense about
emotion

3. Commonsense tells us most of us
Cry
Lash
Tremble
Sad
Angry,
Afraid

4. Exlpanation
o This idea which came to known as James
Lange theory is that people experience
emotion because they perceive their
bodies psychological response to
external events.
o According to this theory people feel sad
because they cry, and likewise they they
feel happy because they smile.

5. Definition:
An emotional event occur a
response in the autonomic
nervous system.This response
is detected by central nervous
system to produce an
emotional experience.

6. Example

7. James-LangeTheory
The James-Lange theory of emotion
argues that an event causes
physiological arousal first and then we
interpret this arousal. Only after our
interpretation of the arousal can we
experience emotion. If the arousal is
not noticed or is not given any
thought, then we will not experience
any emotion based on this event.

8. James-LangeTheory
EXAMPLE:
You are walking down a dark alley late
at night. You hear footsteps behind you
and you begin to tremble, your heart
beats faster, and your breathing
deepens. You notice these
physiological changes and interpret
them as your body's preparation for a
fearful situation. You then experience
fear.

12. Critisims
 James Lange theory was criticized on a large
scale.
o Since the theory inception, scientists have found
evidence that not all aspects of the theory are
relevant and true.
o The theory was criticized by Walter Cannon
and Phillip Bard who theorized that psychological
changes are caused by emotions ,which is
essentially opposite to the James Lange theory
known as Cannon Bard theory of emotion.
o Cannon emphasized that the viscera can be
separated from central nervous system and have
no impact on emotion.

13. o This contradicts the James Lange theory
because James believed that viscera is the
centre of emotion.
o Cannon examined research performed by
Sherrington who separated the spinal cord
and Vegas nerves from all connection in the
rest of the body, and found that the
experience of emotion did not change, thus
disproving the idea that the viscera has a
major impact on emotion.

14. o Theory faced some controversy
more recently, by scientists such as
Lisa Feldman Barrett and James
Gross, Barrett says testing theory
with electrical stimulation there is
not a one to one response between
behavior and category.

15. Facial Feedback and Emotions
o Paul Elman(1984), Carol Izard(1971), and
SlivenTomlinson(1981) hypothesized that
facial feedback from facial muscles and
facial skin contribute to our feelings
specific emotion states, such as anger,
happiness, fear, or sadness.
o James Laired and his colleagues reported
that subjects who held a “smile” pose,
later reported being in batter mood than
those who held a “trown” pose.

16. o When compared with control subjects
people who held a “smile” pose while
watching cartoons reported that the
cartoon were funnier and pleasant scenes.
o Winton concluded that a number of studies
provide evidence that facial feedback can
influence one's general mood.
o He added “there is very little evidence that
facial feedback actually causes a specific
emotion”

17. References
An approach to PsychologyVol 1 by
Rukhshanda Shahnaz
Www.Sparknotes.com
CannonWalterThe American Journal of
Psychology
Feldman Barrett, Lisa (2012) “Emotions
are real” American psychological
association
An approach to PsychologyVol 1 by
Rukhshanda Shahnaz.