Which statement about emotions would have most likely been made by William James?
A) When something happens, your body reacts, then you experience an emotion.
B) If someone points a gun at you, you will experience fear and then you will run.
C) All emotions arise from the same set of bodily functions.
D) It is only after you experience joy that your heart will begin to race.
E) Emotions depends on that cognitive label we attach to an emotion-producing stimulus.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

William James is known for the James-Lange theory of emotion, which suggests that emotions occur as a result of physiological reactions to events. According to this theory, you first have a physical reaction to a stimulus, and then you interpret this physical reaction as an emotion. Therefore, the statement "When something happens, your body reacts, then you experience an emotion" aligns with James's perspective.

Which Statement About Emotions Would Have Most Likely Been Made