Final answer:
The James-Lange theory posits that the first reaction to a stimulus is physiological arousal, which leads to the emotional experience. The theory suggests that different arousal patterns correspond to different emotions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The James-Lange theory asserts that our emotional experience is dependent on the physiological arousal that we experience in response to a stimulus. For example, if you encountered a venomous snake, your sympathetic nervous system would trigger a rapid heartbeat and increased respiration. According to this theory, it is these physiological changes that lead to the experience of fear, suggesting that the first reaction to a stimulus is physiological arousal followed by the emotion. Different patterns of arousal are thought to be linked to different emotions. Critics of this theory argue that emotions can still be experienced by individuals with injuries to their spinal column, who may not detect these changes as vividly, though perhaps with less intensity.
By contrast, the Schachter-Singer two-factor theory posits that physiological arousal is interpreted in the context of the situation to produce the emotion. Therefore, if there was sympathetic nervous system activation without a context (like being injected with adrenaline without a clear reason), the emotional experience might differ based on the cognitive appraisal of the situation.