Recent research has shown the James-Lange theory to be at least partially correct about the unique physiological arousal states associated with emotions. This finding would not have been possible when the theory was developed because ____.
A) the technology to measure minute changes in arousal did not exist
B) it would not have been ethical to conduct the research considering the cultural views at the time
C) psychology did not study the physiological basis for behavior until the 1960s
D) our understanding of emotions at that time was so primitive that the research could not have been conceived

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The James-Lange theory, developed in the late 19th century, proposed that emotions arise from the physiological changes that occur in response to a stimulus. At the time, technology was not advanced enough to measure these subtle physiological changes, and thus the theory could not be tested in the same way that it can be now. Recent research has made use of methods such as EEG and fMRI to detect patterns of neural activity associated with different emotions, and has found support for the James-Lange theory's claims about the importance of bodily sensations in shaping emotional experiences.

Recent Research Has Shown the James-Lange Theory to Be at Least