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A tiger is chasing you. you run. you also feel afraid. according to the James-Lange theory of emotions, what is the order of events?

A. you become afraid, which makes you run; your running makes you more afraid, and you run faster; and so on.
B. first you feel afraid; you run away because you are frightened.
C. first you run away; you feel afraid because you are running.

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Final answer:

According to the James-Lange theory of emotions, the correct order is: first you run away, and then you feel afraid because of your physiological responses (e.g., running). The theory asserts that emotions are a result of bodily reactions to events, with fear stemming from the perception of those reactions.

Step-by-step explanation:

James-Lange theory of emotions is: first you run away; then you feel afraid because you are running. This sequence emphasizes that the physiological response precedes the emotional experience. In the scenario with a tiger chasing you, your body's automatic reactions—such as running and increased heart rate—trigger the emotional feeling of fear.

According to the James-Lange theory, these physiological changes—a racing heart, the breathlessness from running—are what result in the feeling of fear. So, when you encounter a threatening situation, the theory posits that your sympathetic nervous system initiates a fight-or-flight response with effects such as adrenaline release, heart rate increase, and respiration change. It is after these bodily changes that you would experience the emotion of fear.

It's key to note the distinction between the James-Lange theory and the Cannon-Bard theory of emotions. While the James-Lange theory posits that emotions are the result of physiological responses to events, the Cannon-Bard theory argues that our physiological arousal and emotional response to a situation occur simultaneously yet independently.

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