Which theory states that emotions arise from interpreting bodily changes following a stimulus?

• A. James-Lange theory
• B. Cannon-Bard theory
• C. Schachter-Singer (Two-Factor) theory
• D. Lazarus theory of emotion

Answer: (A)

Emotions come from interpreting the body's own arousal after something happens. When a stimulus occurs, your body reacts—your heart races, your breathing quickens, your muscles tense. The feeling you experience—fear, excitement, or anger—is the brain’s interpretation of those bodily changes and the label you attach to them. For example, spotting a threat triggers physical arousal, and you experience fear because you interpret that arousal as fear. This view places the cause of emotion in the perception of bodily signals rather than in the stimulus alone or in a separate cognitive appraisal from the surrounding situation.