Theory of Emotion (Basics)
- evilponderingartic
- Oct 20, 2025
- 1 min read
William James (1884) and Carl Lange (1885) came up with the James–Lange Theory of Emotion, which says that emotions come from the way our bodies react to things around us. This view says that something outside of us causes physical responses (like shaking, a fast heart rate, or changes in facial expressions) that our brain then recognizes as different feelings.
If you see a snake, for example, your body starts to shake and sweat. You don't call that "fear" until you see how excited you are. According to one story, "We are afraid because we tremble, not because we tremble because we are afraid." So, stimulation comes first, then a change in the body, and finally a feeling.
This idea was groundbreaking and changed how scientists think about how feelings affect the mind and body. It led to research into how manipulating the body could change feelings (for example, forcing a smile can slightly improve happiness, which fits with the idea). Nevertheless, James–Lange has its limits. Some people say that physiology can't explain all mental differences because different feelings cause the same physical responses. Even so, it is still used in treatments that help people take charge of their bodies, like deep breathing to calm down. For instance, changing the way your body reacts can help you calm down if you learn to control your breathing. Researchers have looked into the neurophysiology of feeling because of James–Lange's work. The theory stresses that bodily reactions have a big effect on our emotions, showing how physiological factors and emotional events are connected.
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