Question

Compare and Contrast :

James Lange theory and Cannon Bard’s Theory

Answer 1

1. William James and Carl Lange believed that we experience emotions because of our physiological arousal. On the other hand, Walter Cannon and Philip Bard disagreed with James – Lange saying that only physiological arousal will not lead us to experience a particular emotion. This is because we may experience certain physiological arousal but its underneath emotions could be different based upon the situation.
2. According to James and Lange, we don’t cry because we feel sad but we feel sad because we cry. However, Cannon and Bard explained that we don’t cry only when we are sad but we also cry when we are pleasantly surprised or extremely happy. So, according to them, we experience physiological arousal simultaneously yet separately.