Understanding the Cannon–Bard Theory of Emotion: 3 Examples

We describe ourselves as seeing red when angry, turning green with disgust, or flustered when excited.
But how do we define emotions, comprehend their cognitive and physiological components, and understand the reasons behind our emotional experiences?
The challenge in comprehending emotions lies in understanding the link between their physiological and cognitive components.
This article explores one theory that seeks to explain this connection—the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion.
We will begin with a concise definition, provide a few examples, explore critical concepts and applications, and subsequently compare Cannon-Bard’s emotion theory with another prominent viewpoint, the James-Lange Theory.
Given your interest in emotions, we will also briefly introduce our Emotional Intelligence Masterclass and other pertinent resources available from Positivepsychology.com.
Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Emotional Intelligence Exercises for free. These science-based exercises will enhance your ability to understand and work with your emotions and will also give you the tools to foster the emotional intelligence of your clients, students, or employees.