You and your date both witness a fight in a bar, but you each have very different emotional reactions to this event. You find it amusing, but your date becomes very afraid. Which theory of emotion best explains why you each would have different emotional reactions to the fight?
A) The James-Lange theory
B) The Cannon-Bard theory
C) Facial feedback hypothesis
D) Cognitive-mediational theory

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The cognitive-mediational theory suggests that it is not the event itself that elicits an emotional response, but rather how we interpret and evaluate the event. In this scenario, the individual who finds the fight amusing may interpret it as a form of entertainment or a harmless altercation, while the individual who becomes afraid may interpret it as a threatening and dangerous situation. Their emotional responses are influenced by their cognitive interpretations of the event.

You and Your Date Both Witness a Fight in a Bar