Final answer:
The correct answer is option e. Robert Zajonc's theory supports the idea that emotions can occur before complex cognitive processes, aligning with the student's query.
Step-by-step explanation:
The psychologist who would agree with the statement that emotional responses develop before complex thinking occurs is Robert Zajonc. Zajonc posited that some emotional responses can happen without prior cognitive processes, such as automatic reactions to stimuli.
This belief is different from other emotion theories, such as the James-Lange and Cannon-Bard theories, which propose that physiological arousal and emotional experience are interconnected in various ways. Zajonc focuses on the idea that emotion and cognition can be separate functions, with emotion sometimes occurring first. His work on preferential affect illustrates that feelings towards a stimulus can happen rapidly and without extensive cognitive evaluation.