Final answer:
Pete's first response to the growling dog, as proposed by the James-Lange theory, would be physiological changes such as an increased heart rate, which precedes the emotion of fear.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the James-Lange theory of emotion, Pete's first response to being confronted by a large, growling dog would be a series of physiological reactions. Pete would experience changes like an increased heart rate, faster respiration, and perhaps a surge of adrenaline. These physiological changes are initiated by his sympathetic nervous system's fight or flight response when he perceives the dog as a threat. It's only after these bodily responses occur that Pete would interpret them as the emotion of fear. This theory proposes that our emotions are the result of our interpretation of these physical changes in our bodies in response to stimuli.