There are three theories of emotion: 1) commonsense theory of emotion, 2) James-
ID: 3494256 • Letter: T
Question
There are three theories of emotion: 1) commonsense theory of emotion, 2) James-Lange theory of emotion, and 3) appraisal theory of emotions. The commonsense theory of emotions has emotions occur in the following order. First you have an experience, then you feel an emotion (sad, happy, etc.), then you have a physiological response (you blush, have an increased heart rate, etc.) In the James-Lange theory of emotion, the order is different.
First you have an experience, then you have a physiological response, and then you feel an emotion. The appraisal theory of emotions fits in better with some of the research I read while in my psychology program and with personal experience. Many of the physical sensations for emotions are similar. It is how we interpret these emotions. If our heart is racing do we identify it as fear or excitement? If you are a person who identifies these feelings are excitement then you will perceive the event very differently than a person who identifies it as fear.
Which theory do you think is right? How would these different ways of looking at emotion change how you process emotion? Would it change communication with others?
Explanation / Answer
I think the appraisal theory of emotions fits in better with some of the research I read while in my psychology program and with personal experience. It is sure that many of the physical sensations for emotions are similar. It is all 'mechanical' in a deep sense. It is all based on our prejudices that we interpret these emotions. If our heart is racing do we identify it as fear or excitement? If you are a person who identifies these feelings are excitement then you will perceive the event very differently than a person who identifies it as fear. These different ways of looking at emotion woud definitely change my view how I process an emotion. Actually, if we follow the appraisal theory of emotions, we woulf go beyond the human emotions and it would surely change our communication with others. We will then liberate ourselves from the "boring and machine-like emotions" and percieve new experiences as we touch our heart through the practice of comtemplation or meditation on our old theories of emotions.