Final answer:
Research indicating that individuals with spinal cord injuries can still experience emotions, albeit with potentially less intensity, challenges the James-Lange theory of emotion which asserts emotions stem from physiological arousal. It suggests a need to consider cognitive roles in emotion, as posited by the Schachter-Singer two-factor theory.
Step-by-step explanation:
The argument that people with spinal cord injuries can still experience emotions, despite a lack of physical feedback from the sympathetic organs to the cortex, seemed initially to support the James-Lange theory of emotion. This theory posits that emotional experiences arise from physiological responses to stimuli. In essence, the theory suggests that we first experience physiological arousal (e.g., increased heart rate, respiration), and then we interpret these physical changes as specific emotions (e.g., fear, happiness).
Upon further research, however, it is noted that the intensity of the emotional experiences of individuals with spinal cord injuries may be less than those with intact feedback loops, yet they still experience emotion. This indicates that while physiological arousal may contribute to emotional experiences, it is not the sole factor, as emotions can still be felt without those bodily changes. This finding aligns more with theories that emphasize the role of cognitive processes in emotion, such as the Schachter-Singer two-factor theory, which includes both physiological arousal and cognitive appraisal.