Based on theories of emotion, what do the actions of the humans in this passage most reveal about their motivations and values?

• A. Their actions indicate that cognitive appraisal plays a key role in shaping their emotional experiences and guiding their motivations, consistent with the Schachter-Singer theory.
• B. Their actions demonstrate that emotions occur independently of physiological arousal, aligning with the Cannon-Bard theory.
• C. Their actions reveal that emotions are learned through social observation rather than internal processes, supporting the social learning theory.
• D. Their actions suggest that emotions are primarily driven by physiological responses, supporting the James-Lange theory.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the key theories of emotion mentioned: Schachter-Singer theory, Cannon-Bard theory, social learning theory, and James-Lange theory. Each theory explains how emotions arise and influence behavior differently.
2. Step 2: Identify the role of cognitive appraisal in the Schachter-Singer theory, which states that emotions result from both physiological arousal and the cognitive interpretation of that arousal.
3. Step 3: Compare this with the Cannon-Bard theory, which argues that physiological arousal and emotional experience occur simultaneously but independently, without cognitive appraisal influencing the emotion.
4. Step 4: Consider the social learning theory, which emphasizes that emotions are learned through observing others and social context rather than internal physiological or cognitive processes.
5. Step 5: Review the James-Lange theory, which proposes that emotions are primarily the result of physiological responses to stimuli, with the emotion following the bodily reaction.