AP Psychology : Theories of Emotion

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

1 3 Next →

Example Question #131 : Motivation, Emotion, And Personality

The Opponent-Process theory of emotion explains our experience of emotion in relation to its opposites. According to this theory, which emotional experience is not representative of this concept? 

Possible Answers:

A teenager goes through a haunted house to feel intense fear, and after leaving has a surge of elation. 

None of these

All of these

A drug addict experiences euphoria while on a drug, and intense pain while going through withdrawal. 

A person initiates an argument with their spouse in order to have an outlet for their anger. 

Correct answer:

A person initiates an argument with their spouse in order to have an outlet for their anger. 

Explanation:

The opponent-process theory states that one emotion elicits a feeling of the opposite emotion. While someone may initiate an argument to release his or her anger, this is not consistent with the opponent process theory of emotion. 

Example Question #131 : Motivation, Emotion, And Personality

Ahmed is about to give an oral presentation in class and notices his skin flush and his heart pounding faster. Considering his immediate surroundings and the context of the presentation, he interprets his physical state as a fear of public speaking. This description of Ahmed’s emotional process best exemplifies which of the following theories of emotion?

Possible Answers:

Sapir-Whorf

Schachter two-factor

James-Lange

Cannon-Bard

Correct answer:

Schachter two-factor

Explanation:

The Schachter two-factor theory of emotion posits that the experience of arousal (i.e. Ahmed’s increased heart rate and blood flow to the skin) is qualitatively identical in all instances and only differentiated into specific emotions as a result of cognitive evaluation and labeling of the situation at hand. James-Lange, on the other hand, posits that different emotions result from different patterns of arousal, while Cannon-Bard posits that arousal and emotion occur in parallel. The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is not a theory of emotion, but of language.

Example Question #23 : Theories Of Emotion

What is the primary difference between the James-Lange theory of emotions and the Cannon-Bard theory of emotions?

Possible Answers:

James-Lange theory says we experience feelings and then label them, while Cannon-Bard theory says that when we experience something, we think about it and then label it as an emotion. 

James-Lange theory says we have an emotional response and then we feel the physiological response, while Cannon-Bard theory says that we have a physiological response and then we label it as an emotion. 

James-Lange theory says we have a physiological response and then we label it as an emotion, while Cannon-Bard theory says that we have an emotional response and we later feel the physiological response. 

James-Lange theory says we have a physiological response and then we label it as an emotion, while Cannon-Bard theory says that we experience feelings and then label them. 

James-Lange theory says when we experience something, we think about it and then label it as an emotion while Cannon-Bard theory says that we have a physiological response and then we label it as an emotion. 

Correct answer:

James-Lange theory says we have a physiological response and then we label it as an emotion, while Cannon-Bard theory says that we have an emotional response and we later feel the physiological response. 

Explanation:

The correct answer is that "the James-Lange theory says we have a physiological response and then we label it as an emotion, while Cannon-Bard theory says that we have an emotional response and we later feel the physiological response." The other answers are all incorrect, because they are either only half correct, or not correct at all. The Schacter-Singer theory says that we experience feelings and then label them, while Cognitive Appraisal theory says that we experience something, we think about it, and then we label it as an emotion. The other answers are all incorrect juxtapositions of different, incorrect theories or simply a switching of the two theories. 

Example Question #41 : Motivation And Emotion

Which of the following explanations is most representative of the James-Lange theory of emotion?

Possible Answers:

Aaron’s heart started beating faster when he encountered a bear on a hiking trip. When he realized his heartbeat was faster, he realized he was afraid.

Violet sees a brightly colored snake in her backyard, which triggers autonomic arousal in her body. As she becomes aware of this activated state, Violet considers why her body is reacting this way and determines that she must be excited since she loves snakes.

Daniel is told over the phone that his mother has been in a severe car accident. His brain processes this information and sends out signals that cause tears to well up in his eyes as well as trigger a rush of sadness.

After being insulted by her friend, Beatrice simultaneously feels her muscles tense up and herself starting to get angry. 

Correct answer:

Aaron’s heart started beating faster when he encountered a bear on a hiking trip. When he realized his heartbeat was faster, he realized he was afraid.

Explanation:

The example with Aaron is the best choice. In the James-Lange view, an external stimulus creates a bodily change, and then that bodily change prompts the emotional experience (i.e. Aaron is afraid because his heart is beating quickly). Contrastingly, the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion posits that the stimulus triggers a response in the brain, which then contributes to the physiological (e.g. bodily changes) and subjective (e.g. “I must be feeling __________”) experiences of emotion at the same time. This is why the examples with Beatrice and Daniel both reflect the Cannon-Bard view. The example with Violet is related to the Schachter-Singer theory of emotion (also called the two-factor theory), which is harder to distinguish from the James-Lange theory. The “two factors” in this theory are autonomic arousal (ti.e. he heightened bodily response to an emotionally inductive stimulus) and cognitive appraisal (i.e. what you think about your body’s reaction). Since Violet thinks about her body’s reaction and determines she is excited, rather than instantly concluding her emotional state like Aaron did; therefore, she is demonstrating the Schachter-Singer theory.

Example Question #21 : Theories Of Emotion

The Cannon-Bard Theory posits that __________.

Possible Answers:

physical changes occur before emotions.

people experience two basic emotions.

emotions occur before physical changes.

emotion and physical changes are inseparably intertwined.

Correct answer:

people experience two basic emotions.

Explanation:

Cannon-Bard theory states that we feel emotions and experience physiological reactions such as sweating, trembling, and muscle tension simultaneously.

1 3 Next →
Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors