Lecture Notes: Theories of Emotion

Introduction to Emotion

Named after two independent researchers from the 1800s.
Hypothesis: Experience of emotion is due to perception of physiological responses.
- Example: Holding a pet cat causes physiological changes like increased heart rate, neurotransmitter changes, and smiling.
- Interpretation of these responses results in feeling happiness.
Key Idea: Awareness of physiological processes leads to emotional realization.

Developed by two theorists as a counter to James-Lange.
Criticisms of James-Lange:
- Physiological arousal can occur without emotion (e.g., heart racing from exercise).
- Different emotions can have the same physiological response (e.g., anger and excitement).
- Physiological responses are too slow for immediate emotions like fear.
Theory: Physiological responses and emotions occur simultaneously.
- Example: Holding a cat triggers both heart rate increase and joy at the same time.

Emotion arises from physiological and cognitive responses.
Physiological arousal needs cognitive labeling to result in emotion.
- Example: Holding a cat leads to physiological response, labeled cognitively as happiness, producing the emotion of happiness.
Key Idea: Cognitive labeling of the situation is necessary for emotion.

Emotion depends on cognitive appraisal of the event.
Steps:
1. Event occurs (e.g., holding a cat).
2. Cognitive appraisal (labeling as good or bad).
3. Simultaneous emotion and physiological response.
Personal experience, cultural differences, and situational factors influence the appraisal.
- Example: Previous negative experiences with cats may lead to fear, while positive experiences lead to joy.
Comparison with Schachter-Singer:
- Focus on appraisal leading to simultaneous emotion and physiological response.

Four theories provide different perspectives on the sequence and nature of emotional responses.
Importance of understanding how emotions are triggered and experienced.