Final answer:
The finding that people with spinal cord injuries can experience emotions without physical feedback initially lent support to the James-Lange theory of emotion, which links emotions to physiological arousal. However, other theories like the Schachter-Singer two-factor theory and Zajonc's and LeDoux's work highlight the role of cognitive appraisal and brain pathways in emotions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The argument that individuals with spinal cord injuries can experience emotions without physical feedback from the sympathetic organs initially seemed to support the James-Lange theory of emotion. This theory posits that emotions result from physiological arousal and that each emotional experience is associated with a particular pattern of physiological changes. However, research indicates that even when there is a lack of awareness of physiological arousal, as in the case of spinal cord injuries, people still have emotional experiences, although possibly less intense. This finding challenges the assumption that physiological changes are a prerequisite for emotional experience.
Alternative theories, like the Schachter-Singer two-factor theory of emotion, consider both physiological arousal and cognitive appraisal as essential components of emotional experience. Additionally, theorists like Robert Zajonc and Joseph LeDoux suggest that some emotions can occur separately from or prior to cognitive interpretations. In contrast to the James-Lange theory, these perspectives emphasize the role of cognition or direct neural pathways in emotion processing.