At the end of the 19th century, a theory was formulated whose authors were not familiar with each other, but at the same time came to the same conclusion. These were William James and Karl Lange. Their theory described emotions and corresponding manifestations in a person. What are scientists talking about? How can the knowledge described in this theory be applied?
Origin
William James is an American. He studied philosophy and psychology.
Karl Lange is a Danish anatomist and medic. Two scientists, independently from each other, at the same time, came to the same conclusions in the field of human emotions.
As a result, the theory of emotions of James Lange was formed, which won the minds of many followers. In 1884, Mind magazine published an article by James titled “What is emotion?”, Where the author shows that by cutting off its external manifestations from emotion, nothing remains of it. It is worth noting that this hypothesis was quite unexpected and paradoxical for this area of scientific knowledge. William James suggested that the signs that we observe and attribute to the effects of emotion are its cause.
Our body reacts to changes in the environment, its conditions, and, as a result, reflex physiological reactions occur in it unaccountably.
These include increased secretion of glands, reduction of certain muscle groups and similar manifestations. About all these changes in the body receives a signal. It is directed directly to the central nervous system (central nervous system). As a result, emotional experiences are born. And that means, as James Lange’s theory of emotions tells us, a person does not cry from sadness, but rather falls into sadness as soon as he cries or frowns.
Knowledge application
If a person wants to have pleasant experiences, he needs to behave as if it had already taken place. If a bad mood happens, then you need to start smiling! It is necessary to accustom yourself to smile. Only in this way will a person begin to feel like a cheerful person.
The meaning that the theory of emotions of James Lange puts into such actions is that with his external expressions (smile, frown) a person forms his environment. Only after this the environment itself has a certain effect on the person.
It is easy to see that people unconsciously shy away from frowning faces. And that is understandable. Each person has enough of their problems. He doesn’t really want to encounter strangers. If someone sees a smile on his face that expresses optimism, then he disposes of us and causes a response in the soul.
What are the strengths of James Lange’s theory of emotions from experiments?
People who participated in the test process had to evaluate the proposed cartoons and jokes. They held a pencil in their mouth. The point was that some held his teeth and others lips. Those with a pencil in their teeth involuntarily depicted a smile, while others, on the contrary, frowned and tense. So, those who had a smile, found the proposed cartoons and jokes more funny than the second group.
It turns out that the peripheral theory of emotions of James Lange has a foundation. She tells us that emotional states are a secondary phenomenon. It manifests itself as an awareness of the signals that enter the brain, which produce a change in the internal organs, muscles and blood vessels. In turn, these changes occur at the time of the implementation of the behavioral act, as a consequence of an emotiogenic stimulus.
the confirmation
Vera Birkenbil, a German psychologist, suggested that people who participated in the experiments, with the onset of chagrin or concern, retire for a while and try to give a joyful expression to their face. To do this, you could make an effort and force the corners of the lips to rise, and then hold them in this position for 10 to 20 seconds. The psychologist claims that there was no case that this tense smile did not turn into a real one.
Thus, the practical application of the peripheral theory of emotions by James Lange shows that kinesthetic keys that trigger emotions act.
What are the weaknesses of the theory?
The spectrum of body reactions in humans is more scarce than a set of emotional experiences. One organic reaction can combine with very different feelings. It is known that when the hormone adrenaline is released into the blood, a person is excited. However, this excitement can get a different emotional color. It depends on external circumstances.
But, according to the theory of emotions of James Lange, this is not entirely correct when the emotional state depends on external circumstances. So the theory still has weaknesses.
Participants of one experiment, in addition to their knowledge, were raised artificially, adrenaline in the blood. In this test, people were divided into two groups: the first was in a relaxed, cheerful atmosphere, and the second was in a disturbing and depressing atmosphere. As a result, their emotional state manifested itself in different ways: joy and anger, respectively.
It turns out that the theory of emotions of James Lange, in short, shows that a person begins to be afraid, because he is trembling. However, it is known that trembling in the body arises from anger, sexual arousal, and some other factors. Or take, for example, tears - this is a symbol of sadness, anger, grief and, at the same time, joy.
Country traditions
Often emotional manifestations are determined by cultural norms. If we take into consideration a country such as Japan, we can see that the manifestation of pain, sadness in the presence of persons of a higher position is a manifestation of disrespect. In this regard, the Japanese, when he is reprimanded by a superior, must listen to him with a smile. In Slavic countries, such a behavior of a subordinate is considered impudence.
In China, it is also not customary to bother superior, honorable persons with their grief. It has long been customary to inform a senior in age and status of a person about their misfortune with a smile in order to minimize the significance of grief. But the inhabitants of the Andaman Islands, according to their traditions, cry after a long separation, when the meeting takes place. They also respond to reconciliation after quarrels.
Criticism
It turns out that the peripheral theory of emotions of James Lange, in short, does not quite work. Although, of course, psychologists use it in their practice. The result, as a rule, is most often positive. However, they always have to consider the origin of a person, the cultural heritage and his habitat.
This theory shows the ability to control emotions and inner feelings. A person is really capable, with a certain mood, to perform actions characteristic of a particular inner feeling. In this way, it causes feelings themselves.
This theory was criticized by physiologists: Sherrington C.S., Kennon W. and others. They were based on data obtained in experiments with animals, which showed that the same peripheral changes occur with different emotions and conditions that are not related to emotions. Vygotsky L.S. also criticized this theory because of the juxtaposition of elementary (lower) emotions to the true human experience (higher, aesthetic, intellectual, moral).