#AP Psychology: Emotions - The Night Before 🌃

Hey! Let's get you feeling confident about emotions for your AP Psych exam. We'll break it down, make it stick, and you'll be ready to rock! 💪

#What are Emotions?

Emotions are your body's way of responding to the world, involving:

Key Concept

Emotions are a complex interplay of these three components. Understanding this is key to grasping the different theories.

Emotions are vital for survival, keeping us alert and focused. Here's how different theories explain them:

Idea: Emotion comes first, then the physical response.
Example: "I'm scared, so I tremble."
Problem: This theory is too simplistic and doesn't explain the complexity of emotions.
💡Tl;dr: Emotion → Physiological Response

Idea: Physical response comes first, then the emotion.
Example: "We feel sad because we cry, angry because we tense up, and afraid because we tremble.”

James-Lange Theory Image Courtesy of Pixorize.

Idea: Stimulus triggers the brain, which simultaneously causes both physiological responses and the feeling of emotion.
Example: "My heart begins pounding as I feel fear."

Cannon-Bard Theory Image Courtesy of Pixorize.

Idea: Physiological arousal happens first, then you cognitively appraise the situation to determine the emotion.
Example: "I am trembling because of the snake in the room. Therefore, I must be afraid."

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