Final answer:
The facial feedback theory states that emotions can result from the brain's interpretation of facial movements. This theory is distinguished from other theories of emotion such as the James-Lange and Cannon-Bard theories, which focus on the relationship between emotions and physiological arousal without emphasizing the role of facial expressions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theory that suggests emotions result from our brain's interpretations of muscle and skin movements that occur when we express emotion is the facial feedback theory. This concept, described by Buck in 1980, posits that our facial expressions can cause or intensify emotional experiences. This idea is related to, but distinct from, other emotion theories like the James-Lange theory, which argues that emotions are the result of physiological arousal -- for instance, experiencing fear because we notice that our heart rate has increased upon encountering a venomous snake.
In contrast to the James-Lange theory that emotions arise as a function of physiological arousal, and the Cannon-Bard theory that suggests emotional experience and physiological arousal occur simultaneously but independently, the facial feedback hypothesis focuses on how facial expressions can contribute to or enhance emotional experiences. According to this hypothesis, not only do our emotions have an impact on our facial expressions, but also the act of forming a facial expression can have an impact on the emotions we feel.
The interplay between our physiological response, cognitive processing, and facial expressions forms the basis of these diverse theories on emotion - each providing insight into how we might experience and interpret our emotional states.