The James-Lange Theory, in summarization, suggests that our emotions are triggered by physiologial reactions to events. When we cry due to a loss it leads us to feel sorrowful, yelling and becoming violet towards someone who upsets us causes us to feel anger, shaking or being scared easily if someone was to jump out at us causes us to feel fear. According to James and Lange there is a physiological, or visceral experience, accompanying every major emotion. We can determine the exact pattern of these responses that can help us to reveal the emotional experience. Researchers argue with this theory. According to some, this information cannot necessarily be proved. If a stranger approaches you from a dark alley during the night, and you're walking alone, you're going to immediately feel frightened. Whereas, before a big speech you accquire the same feeling over a length of time, and it stays with you until the event is over. Some don't see how this could be pin-pointed as the exact source of immediate emotional experience. According to Feldman (2010) : The James-Lange Theory poses another difficulty: our internal organs produce a relatively limited range of sensations. Although some types of physiological changes are associated with specific emotional experiences, it is difficult to imagine how each of the myriad emotions that people are capable of experiencing could be the result of a unique visceral change. Many emotions actually are associated with relatively similar sorts of visceral changes, a fact that contradicts the James-Lange theory (Davidson et al., 1994; Cameron, 2002.). (p. 269) The Cannon-Bard Theory, ultimately states, bodily changes and emotions do not share a cause-and-effect relationship. Instead, they think these emotions/changes occur randomly, following a stimulating event. As stated by Feldman (2010) : The Cannon-Bard theory seems to have been accurate in rejecting the view that physiological arousal alone accounts for emotions. However, more recent research has led to some important modifications of the theory. For one thing, we now understand that the hypothalamus and the limbic system, not the thalamus, play a major role in emotional experience. In addition, the simultaneous occurence of the physiological and emotional responses, which is a fundamental assumption of the Cannon-Bard theory, has yet to be demonstrated conclusively. This ambiguity has allowed room yet another theory of emotions: the Schachter-Singer theory. (p. 270) Cannon and Bard don't seem to think there is an issue with or any different physiological patterns, just as long as the message being sent to the cerebral cortex is different, and knows the difference in the emotions, and what is making them feel that way according to the emotion-producing stimulus. The Schachter-Singer Theory, or two-factor theory of emotion, states that all of our emotions are based on two factors: physiological arousal and cognitive label. They conducted a test which states when we feel emotions a physiological arousal occurs. The person who is using the immediate environment to conduct a search for emotional cues to label the physiological arousal. This actually can cause a misunderstanding when it comes to interpreting emotions according to the physiological state of the body. As stated by Feldman (2010) : The purpose of th experiment was to determine how the participants would react emotionally to the confederate's behavior. When they were asked to describe their own emotional state at the end of the experiment, the participants exposed to the angry confederate reported that they felt angry, whereas those exposed to the happy confederate reported feeling happy. In sum, the results suggest that participants turned to the environment and the behavior of others for an explanation of the physiological arousal they were experiencing. (p. 271). In my own case, I believe I react more with The Schachter-Singer Theory. For example, when I go into work and everyone is in a bad mood, it makes everyones day start going down hill, even if I'm in a great mood it still brings me down. Whereas, when I go into work and everyone is in a good mood, it makes everyones day go smoother, and everyone is happier. Here's a similar relation, when I'm out in public, maybe to watch a movie, I walk up to purchase my movie tickets, and the boy/girl working the concession stand is extremely rude and hateful. I'm in a good mood at this point trying to be polite, just buy my movie tickets and walk away. This person insists on being negative and rude, so by the time I walk away I'm feeling rude and hateful. That is so strange how this theory seems to really take place - it's almost as if it's some kind of domino effect.