AP Psychology
James-Lange's Theory of Emotion suggests that emotions are the result of physiological responses to external stimuli. In other words, our emotional experience is determined by how our body reacts to a situation.
The James-Lange Theory of Emotion suggests that emotions arise from physiological responses to external events. Before feeling emotion, individuals first observe bodily reactions, such as sweating or a fast heartbeat.
Initial support for the theory came from William James and Carl Lange in the late 19th century. Contemporary research often challenges this view, favoring more complex interactionist approaches to emotion like the Cannon-Bard or Schachter-Singer theories.