Compare and contrast a 21st-century theory of emotion (Cannon-Baird theory of emotion with an earlier theory of emotion (James Lange theory of emotion).
Introduction
Emotions are highly associated with human evolutions. They enable us to make rapid judgements regarding stimuli (Brosch et al., 2013). Emotions also allow us to quickly guide suitable behaviour. While emotions may appear less important than our rational cognitive processes, we rely on cognitions and emotions for effective decision-making. Specifically, emotions are useful in decision making especially when we have to choose between conflicting and complex alternatives that are characterised by a high level of ambiguity and uncertainty. Over the years, various theories of emotions have emerged in the field of psychology in a bid to better explain how psychological and physical changes impact our behaviour and thought process. This essay shall compare and contrast Cannon-Baird theory of emotion with James Lange theory of emotions, along with the influence of hardware and software technology on our emotions.
The Cannon-Bard theory of emotions was a culmination of the complied work of Walter Cannon and Philip Bard. It is premised on the hypothesis that emotions result from the brain’s responses to a stimulus, as happens with the thalamus signal. The thalamus is involved in visual or auditory signals (D'Hondt et al., 2010). It also sends sensory signals while also influencing motor control. This leads to physiological reactions. For example, you are likely to become afraid at the sight of a spider and concurrently tremble or scream. In other words, we are bound to experience an increase in heart rate the moment we become are of any danger. Even as emotional experience and physiological arousals take place instantaneously, they are nonetheless, independent. Therefore, you are likely to feel fearful at the exact time that you encounter danger, such as seeing a venomous snake. This fear is as a result of the fight or flight responses of your body, at the sight of a snake. Such an emotional reaction is autonomous and distinct from the physiological arousals despite the fact that the two co-occur. Elsewhere, the James-Lange theory holds that emotions are as a result of physiological arousals (Laird & Lacasse, 2013). If we were to take the same example of a venomous snake, your sympathetic nervous system triggers considerable physiological arousals. Consequently, your respiration rate increase, as does your heart rate. Based on the James-Lange theory of emotion, the feeling of fear is only evident once the physiological arousals has occurred. Moreover, various arousals patterns are characterized by various feelings. This serves as a limitation of the theory, seeing as it is not very clear what leads to the changes. Consequently, it is not clear if such changes are part of the emotions. In addition, critics of this theory have questioned whether there are adequate differences in pain physiological arousals to result in the diverse emotions that we experience. The fear is as a result of the racing heart. It means therefore that the racing heart and fear do not occur concurrently. This is in line with a statement by William James that: “We feel sorry because we cry, angry because we strike, afraid because we tremble” (James, 1884, p. 190). One of the underlying elements of the James-Lange theory is that various patterns of arousals can lead to varied emotional experiences.
Each of these theories is backed by research evidence. For example, the idea that emotions and arousals occur concurrently as postulated by the Cannon-Bard theory is supported by the fast emotional pathway. In this case, experiences of an emotional stimulus helps to activate the limbic systems, along with the associated emotional circuits (LeDoux, 2000). Such emotional circuits will in turns develop corresponding physical reactions. This is a very quick process such that we are likely to feel as though our physical arousals and emotions occur concurrently. In contrast, our experiences of emotions tends to be weaker in the absence of arousals, as highlighted by the James-Lange theory. There is evidence to support the claim that various emotions are as a result of various patterns of arousals. Individuals who are watch fearful faces manifest in a higher level of amygdala activation in comparison with other individuals who view joyful or angry faces (Whalen et al, 2001). In the same way, one is likely to experience a flushing or red face in a state of embarrassment that when he or she is experiencing other emotions. Additionally, we tend to release different hormones while experiencing compassion as opposed to when we are experiencing other emotions (Oatley, Keltner & Jenkins, 2006).
The novelty, malfunctions and ability of technology such as hardware and software forms the basis for its emotional reactions. Technology alters our feelings along with the manner in which we express emotions. The use of digital technologies such as desktops, mobile phones and wearables, stimulates emotions in individuals. Such emotions can be less intense or more intense. Mother people experience negative or positive emotions as a result of using digital technologies. Technology aids in fixing of emotions into what Lasén (2010) describe as “digital inscriptions. Such digital inscriptions lend themselves to managing, storage, comparison and viewing. Essentially, the transformed emotions become ‘archives of feelings that is, ‘repositories of feelings and emotions, which are encoded not only in the context of the texts themselves but in the practices that surround their production and reception’ (Cvetkovich, 2003, p. 7). In this way, technology arouses an affectionate response in an individual, often typified by dependence or attachment.
Conclusion
Emotional theories help us to understand the relationship between emotions, experiences and physical arousal. The Cannon-Bard theory and James-Lange theories are both instrumental in informing our understanding of emotions and how these impacts our experience of them. While the Cannon-Bard theory perceives changes in our autonomic nervous systems and emotional state as occurring concurrently, elsewhere, the James-Lange theory holds that an individual may experience physiological arousals in the absence of emotions. In other words, physiological arousal and emotions do not take place concurrently. Technology has impacted human emotions by encoding it in different hardware or software context. Such digital inscriptions trigger affectionate responses.
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