Final answer:
The Cannon-Bard theory of emotion would support the ability to experience emotion without sympathetic nervous system arousal, as it posits that physiological responses and emotions occur simultaneously but independently.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theory that would support the possibility of experiencing emotion in the absence of any sympathetic nervous system arousal is the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion. This theory posits that physiological arousal and emotional experience can occur simultaneously but independently. In contrast to the James-Lange theory, which states that emotion is experienced after physiological reactions, the Cannon-Bard theory suggests that when you see a venomous snake, your body initiates a fight or flight response at the same time as you feel fear. This means that even if the sympathetic nervous system was not activated—say, you had taken a drug that prevented this response—you could still experience fear or other emotions because the emotional experience does not rely on bodily arousal.
Another view is represented by the Schachter-Singer two-factor theory, which also allows for the experience of emotions without sympathetic arousal. The two-factor theory requires a cognitive label or appraisal of the physiological arousal that occurs in an emotional situation, arguing that this interpretation in context produces the emotional experience. Even if there is no physiological arousal due to inhibition by a drug, cognitive factors could still lead to an emotional reaction.
Furthermore, researchers such as Robert Zajonc and Joseph LeDoux suggest that certain emotions can occur without cognitive appraisal, indicating that emotions can also be experienced through direct pathways in the brain, such as those leading to the amygdala, without the need for conscious processing and sympathetic nervous system activation.