Theories of Emotion
For the following situations, identify the theory of emotion being demonstrated. Is it representative of James-Lange Theory or Schachter & Singer Theory?
1. Monica feels as though she is in love because she feels her heart race, is out of breath, and has shaky knees.
2. Bill walks into a room and realizes that the gray shape behind the door is not a shadow but a man with a gun. His heart begins to race at the same time as he experiences the emotion of fear.
3. Rosemary notices that her palms are sweating and her heart is beating quickly. She looks around the room and sees that the teacher is handing out a pop quiz. So, Rosemary concludes that she must be feeling nervous due to the quiz.
4. It was Brenda's birthday, and she thought that nobody had remembered. That night, as she walked into her house and turned on the lights, a crowd of relatives and friends jumped out and yelled "Happy Birthday!" Brenda's heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing increased at about the same time as she experienced the feeling of happiness.
5. Jim recognizes that a fight is about to break out in his favorite restaurant. Consequently, he interprets his heart palpitations as fear.
6. As Bob was walking down the street, a fierce dog came running out from the back of a house and was snarling angrily. His heart began to race until he discovered that the dog was on a long chain. When he noticed how fast his heart was beating, he realized that he was scared.
