Summarize the James–Lange theory of emotion. How, according to James, could one escape or avoid negative emotions such as depression?
James altered the conventional belief that the perception of an event results into the emotions. According to him, perception causes the bodily reactions results in the emotions. Emotions are felt and they depend directly on what we do. Exciting facts results in the perception, which is followed by the bodily changes and the changes in the feelings as well results in the emotions.
James always believed in the concept of the free will. He coupled his theory of emotions with the free will concept and yields the advices, which was practical in nature. The advice was “act in a way you want to feel”. Theory of emotion given by the James provided the importance to the Zeitgeist. It was the theory related to the emotions only, which was given by the Carl George Lange.
Combination of the theories on emotion given by the James and Lange was famously called as James-Lange theory of emotion. This theory was strictly criticized by the Cannon and the Wundt. The theories of the Lange and the James were virtually shared the resemblance so the formation of the combination of these theories was proved to be a simple task for the recognition of both the scientists.