James–Lange theory

The James-Lange theory of body reactions states that feelings concomitants of physical processes are. The basic idea of ​​this theory of emotion was already at various older authors, for example, René Descartes, Aristotle, Hermann Lotze and Spinoza. However, it was only through William James' work What is an emotion? (1884 ) became popular. Almost simultaneously, but independently of James, and the Danish physiologist Carl Lange published a book ( About the Emotions, 1885), the emotions considered in a similar way, which is why both coined the name of the theory.

Basic statement

After James feelings are the result of visceral changes ( cf. Lange: vasomotor reactions), which reflexively occur mostly in the perception of emotion -inducing situations, but what is true only for coarser emotions, such as anger, love, joy, fear and pride, with relatively strong physical symptoms associated. In addition, instrumental actions for certain emotions are characteristic. Considering that according to James ' biological theory of emotion in contrast to later cognitive theories of emotion (among the two-factor theory of emotion by Stanley Schachter and Gregorio Marañón ) (also called appraisal theories ) no additional processes of mental processing for the initiation of emotions are responsible for talking to Jamestown three situations which he covered introspective:

• The assessment of emotion- triggering object occurs only after its occurrence.
• The assessment may be in contrast to the emotion.
• It is not unusual that emotions occur without a vote takes place.

The reflex is triggered also implies that can be experienced by mere idea of ​​emotion inducing situations, instrumental action or involuntary physical reactions, such as facial expressions, feelings, what is called in modern psychology as a feedback effect.

In 1884, James clarified the original version of his theory of emotion, to respond to numerous criticisms, including in 1893 by William Leonard Worcester ( 1845-1901 ), who was of the opinion that the mere perception of emotion -inducing situation was not sufficiently and that arbitrary actions could evoke no specific emotions. James replied in the corresponding reply that the visceral reactions of the body would not be triggered by the perception, but by a latent idea of ​​the vital element of the situation, and that one must differentiate exactly specific emotions, as for example, the fear of an attacking bear not be equated with the fear of failing in an exam. True emotions träten only when the visceral changes in the body diffuse nature and are non-specific ( as opposed to, for example, shivering or hunger, which are indeed not to count to feelings in the strict sense ). In addition, visceral changes in the emergence of emotions would have a far greater importance than instrumental reactions.

Cannons criticism

Perhaps precisely because of its counter-intuitive nature of attempted especially Walter Cannon and Philip Bard ( Cannon- Bard theory ) to refute in the following years this emotion theory, since in their opinion, some evidence existed that could not explain the James - Lange theory. These were:

• A separation of the viscera from the central nervous system, according to no restrictions in the emotional experience. This was demonstrated by Cannon on the basis of experiments with dogs and cats, in which he severed the spinal cord, but could find no emotional change.
• The viscera is too insensitive, as they could cause severe physiological arousal.
• Change in the viscera take too long, as that they could be used as a reason for the sudden emergence of emotions.
• Many emotions have the same physiological arousal pattern, which is why the perception of physiological arousal does not allow specific assignment.
• The artificial inducing the emotion-specific pattern of excitation has no perceived emotion result, but only a kind of cold arousal state ( whereby Cannon relied on adrenaline experiments Maranons which also Schachter served for the preparation of its two-factor theory of emotion later)

Cannon which consequently both sufficient and necessary causes of the James - Lange theory in question and offered an alternative, selbstkonzipierte theory. Seen from today's perspective, this raises the bulk of Cannon's criticisms out to be groundless.

Neojamesianische theories

Even in the 1970s, it was considered that were the case, at least a part of the James - Lange theory. During this time the neo- jamesianischen emotion theories have been founded, the postulate that physical changes and their perception are an important component in the emotion generation and whose most prominent representatives probably Silvan Tomkins is, which assumed that subcortical programs exist for the fundamental emotions are essential. If these programs played, shall be held in changes in the facial expressions and gestures, as well as in the viscera and even the perception of these changes ensures that the person is aware of his emotion.