James-Lange Theory

The James-Lange theory of emotion was a theory proposed in parallel by two theorists: William James in 1884 and Carl Lange 1885 that described how emotions do not instantaneously follow the perception of an event but rather happen after the body has responded to the particular occurrence. The supposition expressed that the acuity of an environmental stimulus causes physical changes. The brain apprehends this change or these changes, and this is what identifies emotion. Each theorist focused on different characteristics of emotion, in spite of the similarities in presentation. James discussed the physiology of emotion which Lange did not focus on Lange reinterpreted much of James' theory by making it more refined and the theory testable and applicable to human experience and the theory of human development (Lang, 1994). Psychologists and theorists have debated the James-Lange theory over the years and its validity with regard to emotion being the sole factor that the body feels as a result of the response from an environmental stimulus. James Hillman is considered to be the most esteemed psychologist in this field since William James. 

 As a result of the disparagements launched toward the James-Lange theory, two additional psychologists created what was known as the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion. This theory straightforwardly confronted the James-Lange theory in that it advocated that physiological responses are a direct effect of our emotions (Feldman Barrett, 2012). While the James-Lange theory has been radically disdained by research as of late, there are many occurrences where physiological reactions lead to emotional experiences. 

One example of the James-Lange theory at work is when an individual sees an animal that they are afraid of, for example, a raccoon and their muscles tense, their heart begins to race and the emotions that result are apprehension as well tense fear. Another example is sadness that an individual feels at the loss of a loved one. When an individual loses a loved one, they cry and as a result of this crying, there is a feeling of sadness that accompanies the loss.

References

Feldman Barrett, L. (2012). Emotions are Real. American Psychological Association,12(3), 413–429.

Lang, P. J. (1994). The Varieties of Emotional Experience: A Meditation on James–Lange Theory. Psychological Review, 101(2), 211–221.