{Theories of Emotion

Angel RojasRebecca Escobedo Wendy Valenzuela

James-Lange Theory Cannon Bard Theory Schachter-Singer theory Opponent Process Theory Stemberg’s Triangular theory of love

Different Theories of emotion

Which theory of emotion was correct? James-Lange Cannon-Bard Schachter-Singer

Essential Questions #1

Theory came about with 2 theorists Williams James and Carl Lange

Was introduced in 1884-1887 Their theory was that emotion is not

directly caused by the sensitivity of the event but by the bodily response

For example we must first experience fast breathing, eyes dilating, heart racing etc. before we actually become alarmed

The brain notices the bodily response then informing the person which emotion to take

James-Lange theory

James-Lange theory

Fear(emotion)

Poundingheart

(arousal)

Sight of oncoming

car(perception of

stimulus)

Theorist Walter Cannon believed that both James and Lange had a good basic theory however it had many flaws.

Introduced in 1927 He theorized that both bodily reactions and emotion

played a role on how to act in an alarming situation Cannon believed this because one bodily reaction

could represent many things Heart racing can mean you’re angry or excited

Theorist Phillip Bard agreed with him and continued researching the topic

Both determined that Emotion and Bodily reactions act similarly but are independent variables.

Cannon-Bard Theory

Cannon-Bard Theory

Sight of oncoming

car(perception of

stimulus)

Poundingheart

(arousal)

Fear(emotion)

Who is experiencing the Schachter-Singer theory?

1. The girl crying because she lost her dog

2. The thief who is running from the police

3. The women who is falling in love

Essential question # 2

Stanley Schachter and Jerome Singer proposed another theory which was known as the Schachter-Singer theory

 ”It is where experiencing an emotion requires both bodily response and an interpretation of the bodily response by considering the particular situation the person is in at the moment”

An example would be if my heart is racing and I am being chased by a killer I might think that it is fear. If my heart is racing and I am looking at the person I am in love with, I might interpret that as excitement. Even though the bodily response is the same, I might experience very different emotions depending on the type of situation I am in.

Schachter-Singer Theory

Schachter-Singer Theory

Who created the Opponent- process Theory and what are some of the ideas the make it up?

How is the Opponent-process Theory evident in our every day life?

Essential Question #3 and #4

The Opponent-Process Theory was created by Richard Solomon and John Corbit.

It explains our experiences of emotion in relation to its opposites.

It also states that an experience of an emotion disrupts our bodies state of balance and that our emotions have opposing counterparts.

Opponent-Process theory

Examples of opposite emotions would be: Happy and sad Pleasure and pain Excitement and depression

When we experience one emotion, its opposite is suppressed.

Once the first emotion subsides, we begin to start feeling the opposite emotion to balance out the other one

Opposite Emotions

The Triangular Theory of Love was developed by Robert Sternberg.

He discusses the subject of interpersonal relationships and the 3 components that make up a love triangle.

The 3 components are: Passion Intimacy Commitment

Stemberg’s Triangular Theory of Love

Passion- Being sexually and physically attracted to that person

Intimacy- Feeling a sense of closeness and attachment to a person

Commitment- Wanting to create a short-term relationship with someone, and wanting

to stay with someone in a long-term relationship

The Three

Nonlove Liking/friendship Infatuated love Empty Love Romantic love Companionate

love Fatuous Love Consummate love

Different Types of Love

Contrasting Theories on Emotion. (n.d.). etheories. Retrieved February 23, 2014, from http://eweb.furman.edu/~einstein/general

Four Theories of Emotion. (n.d.). Four Theories of Emotion. Retrieved February 23, 2014, from http://webspace.ship.edu/tosato/emotion.htm

Introduction to William James. (n.d.). Introduction to William James. Retrieved February 26, 2014, from http://www.uky.edu/~eushe2/Pajares/hun

Join Academia.edu & Share your research with the world. (n.d.). Cognitive Theories of Emotion. Retrieved February 24, 2014, from http://www.academia.edu/867460/Cognitive_Theories_of_Emotion

McCubbin, J. A. (n.d.). Chapter 13 Emotion. 13Emotion. Retrieved February 27, 2014, from http://www.lbusd.k12.ca.us/.../13Emotion.ppt

Opponent-Process Theory. (n.d.). Opponent-Process Theory. Retrieved February 23, 2014, from http://www.mhhe.com/cls/psy/ch10/opponent.mhtml

Forrest, K. D. (n.d.) Chapter 11 Emotion. Emotion. Retrieved February 27, 2014, from

web.gccaz.edu/~kshinema/emotion%202.ppt Theories of Emotion. (n.d.). Theories of Emotion. Retrieved February 23,

2014, from http://www.westmont.edu/~bsmith/general/lectureoutlines/12emotion/theoriesemotions.html

Cites