Question

Jacob notices a snake slithering up the river bank while he is fishing. The thalamus of Jacob's brain immediately stimulates his autonomic nervous system, which in turn, increases the rate of his breathing and heartbeat. At the same time, Jacob's brain sends signals to his cerebral cortex which causes Jacob to perceive the emotional experience of fear. Consequently, Jacob experiences both fear and the physiological changes in his body at the same time. This scenario complies with the principle of the:_____________
A. James-Lange theory
B. Cannon-Bard theory
C. TWO-factor theory
D. drive reduction theory

Answer 1

The correct answer is letter B

Cannon-Bard's theory of emotion was developed by the two physiologists Walter Cannon and Philip Bard. Walter Cannon did not agree with James-Lange's theory of emotion in several respects.

Cannon suggested that people can experience physiological reactions that are commonly linked to emotions - as the racing heart is linked to fear - without actually feeling that emotion.

He also suggested that emotional responses occur too quickly to be simply a product of physical states. Cannon first proposed his theory in the 1920s, and his work was later expanded by also physiologist Philip Bard during the 1930s.

According to Cannon and Bard's theory of emotion, we feel emotions and experience physiological reactions - such as sweating, shaking and muscle tension - at the same time.

More specifically, this theory suggests that emotions are produced when the thalamus - part of our brain that is part of emotion processing - sends a message to the brain in response to a stimulus. This results in a physiological reaction