The James-Lange Theory of Emotion

Although there are many aspects of the mind that we have yet to discover and understand, certainly one of the more interesting facets that has yet escaped concrete analysis and proof is the question of where exactly our emotions come from and how we display them. While there are many basic facts about emotion, such as what constitutes a basic emotion, and what the general meanings of these emotions are, some of the more complex ideas have no concrete proof behind them. Thankfully, a variety of theories constructed across history have attempted to answer this question and offer a definition. While many of these theories have been in part proven false, it is nonetheless important that we understand them as a starting point for our quest in eventually answering the idea of emotions. One of the earliest, and thus one of the background theories of emotion was created by William James and Carl Lange in the late 1880's.

This theory has become known as the James-Lange Theory of emotion, and the basic ideas behind it are very interesting indeed. Whereas we normally tend to think of our bodies and our faces changing to reflect the emotions which we are feeling, the James-Lange theory states that basically the opposite is true. Boiled down, this theory states that emotions come after our bodies react. For example, assume one was walking through the woods, and a large angry grizzly bear burst out. According to the James-Lange Theory, we would run from the bear automatically, and, in the course of our running, would discover that we were afraid based upon the bodies reaction to the stimulus. According to James-Lange, we feel emotions because we sense the change in our bodies. Thus, the physiological responses by our bodies to various situations are interpreted by our bodies and then our minds, based upon those responses, construe the emotion that we should be feeling.

Although several current theories do use information obtained in part from the James-Lange theory, it takes only a little bit of common sense to realize that many of these ideas do not hold a place in contemporary psychology or the fact based study of mental health. Of course, the most obvious flaw here is that simple experience shows us that physiological responses rarely happen without thought from the brain. By following that tract, it is easy to realize that although the physiological response of the body may be a contributor to our emotions, it is simply not the cause. In fact, most would suggest, and as would contemporary theory that our emotions cause physical reactions, and not the other way around.

The James-Lange theory also fails to account for the idea that different people may have different reactions in different situations, and that these differences would radically alter the spectrum of emotion as a whole. Even when we have similar physiological reactions, such as the increased awareness of the somatic nervous system and the increased body temperature and heart beat in situations which make us angry, it largely depends on the individual person with regards to how these emotions are acted upon, and what they mean as a whole.

Although it is important that we consider the James-Lange theory as the base of contemporary research into the root causes of emotions and what those causes may mean, it is also equally important that we do not place too much emphasis on the theory. Even though many important ideas are discussed, and this is perhaps the first time that we begin to see that the brain and body are linked in emotional responses, most modern research and study suggests the opposite of what James and Lange are saying. Thus, even though it may be important to learn the background of a theory, it is equally important that we compare the theory to modern research to see where it stands today before we place too much emphasis on it.