Final answer:
The statement is false; physiological reactions are not exclusive to intense emotions alone. Theories like the James-Lange and Cannon-Bard theories, as well as research by Damasio and Schachter and Singer, illustrate that a wide range of emotions produce physiological responses tied to both bodily arousal and cognitive processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Only intense emotions, such as disgust or excitement, produce physiological reactions' is false. Emotional responses are not limited to just intense emotions; they can arise from a wide range of emotions, including subtle ones. Physiological reactions can occur with various emotions, as evidenced by the James-Lange theory of emotion, which suggests that emotions are the result of physiological arousal. For example, when you are threatened by a venomous snake, your sympathetic nervous system would initiate a fight or flight response, inducing a rapid heart rate and increased respiration, which could then lead to a feeling of fear.
Other theories, such as the Cannon-Bard theory, argue that physiological arousal and emotional experience occur simultaneously but independently. Additionally, Damasio's research highlighted that emotions work as part of a homeostatic feedback loop in the brain, involving conscious thought and being essential for survival decisions. Thus, more subtle emotional experiences, while potentially less intense, also produce bodily responses that are important for behavior and decision-making.
The work of Schachter and Singer also points out that cognition plays a crucial role in the emotion we experience, as physiological arousal can be very similar across different emotions. This underscores the idea that various emotions, not just the intense ones, produce physiological reactions and that these reactions are tied to cognitive assessment of the situation.