Physiological Theories of Emotion Biological Perspective

James-Lange Theory of Emotion States that people experience physiological changes and then interpret them as emotions. Ie: people do not experience emotion until after their body experiences physiological changes.

Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion States that two areas of the brain are stimulated at the same time. Stimulation of the cerebral cortex produces emotional experience, while stimulation of the thalamus produces changes in the sympathetic nervous system. Ie: emotional experiences accompany physiological changes rather than follow them.

Schachter & Singer (1962) Two-Factor Thery of Emotion: We experience a physiological arousal (feeling) and we then decide what it means depending on what we’re doing or what is happening around us at that time. Event->Arousal->Reasoning->Emotion

Schachter & Singer Study (1962) Gave 1 group a mild stimulant & another group a placebo They were then given a questionnaire that contained very personal questions A “stooge” in the room got angry at the questionnaire Those with the mild stimulant got angry too Those with the placebo didn’t get that angry

Dutton and Aron (1974) Had an attractive woman ask for interviews from young men on a swinging bridge 200 ft. above a river They also had her ask for interviews from men on firm ground (terra firma) Halfway through the interview, she gave them her phone # 60% of the men from the swinging bridge called her 30% of the men from firm ground called her They concluded that the men on the bridge interpreted their arousal from fear on the bridge as attraction to the woman