The example with Aaron is the best choice. In the James-Lange view, an external stimulus creates a bodily change, and then that bodily change prompts the emotional experience (i.e. Aaron is afraid because his heart is beating quickly). Contrastingly, the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion posits that the stimulus triggers a response in the brain, which then contributes to the physiological (e.g. bodily changes) and subjective (e.g. “I must be feeling __________”) experiences of emotion at the same time. This is why the examples with Beatrice and Daniel both reflect the Cannon-Bard view. The example with Violet is related to the Schachter-Singer theory of emotion (also called the two-factor theory), which is harder to distinguish from the James-Lange theory. The “two factors” in this theory are autonomic arousal (ti.e. he heightened bodily response to an emotionally inductive stimulus) and cognitive appraisal (i.e. what you think about your body’s reaction). Since Violet thinks about her body’s reaction and determines she is excited, rather than instantly concluding her emotional state like Aaron did; therefore, she is demonstrating the Schachter-Singer theory.

The opponent-process theory states that one emotion elicits a feeling of the opposite emotion. While someone may initiate an argument to release his or her anger, this is not consistent with the opponent process theory of emotion.

The evolutionary theory of emotion believes that emotions developed in order to help facilitate human survival, in order to allow for reproduction. An evolutionary theory looks at emotions in the context of an evolutionary framework.

Selye's outline of the GAS holds that the first stage is alarm reaction, in which the body readies itself by activating the sympathetic nervous system. The second stage is resistance, in which the body remains in a state of readiness, but gradually becomes weaker. The third, and final, stage is exhaustion, in which the parasympathetic nervous system returns the body to a normal state.

Amongst evolutionary psychologists who have expanded on Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, it is generally accepted there are seven core emotions that have evolved due to their adaptive value. These are contempt, happiness, anger, surprise, sadness, disgust, and fear. They argue that any other emotion is a blend of these core emotions, or a variation of intensity within these emotions basic emotions (for example, feeling ecstatic would not be another basic emotion, but rather a variation in the intensity of happiness).

According to Schacter and Singer, an essential component of the way we experience emotion is the labeling of physical sensations and feelings. The way we label emotions influence how we are able to cope with them and, depending on the label, it may even prolong the emotion.

In Schachter's Two-Factor Theory of emotion, the two factors are physiological arousal and cognitive label. First a person will experience a physiological sensation, and will then try to place a label on the context surrounding this response, in an effort to explain it. According to Schachter both factors are needed, and are mutually reinforcing.

The James-Lange Theory is based on the idea that physical changes elicit emotion. William James and Carl Lange developed the theory independently, but formulated a cohesive theory. The James-Lange Theory, in its initial formation, held that if physical sensation were completely removed emotional response would also be removed. Modern theorists have since revised the theory to soften this stance, and hold rather that physical sensation significantly affects emotional response, but the relationship is not total. Support for this comes from studies of spinal cord injuries in which emotions are experienced less intensely.

The cognitive appraisal theory holds that one's emotional experience depends on one's interpretation of the situation. This was the first theory of emotion to consider the person's appraisal of a situation, in addition to physiology and behavior.

A theory developed by William James and Carl Lange in the 19th century, this hypothesis explores the idea that emotion does NOT precede physiological changes. Instead, a person experiences an event, has an instinctual physiological response to the event, and the brain, sensing the physiological change through the nervous system, prompts an emotion.

For example: A person sees a bear. Their heart rate rises, their perspiration increases, and their mouth becomes dry. Based on these responses, the brain decides fear is an appropriate emotion for the environmental stimuli.

The reasoning behind this theory is that emotions help a person figure out the best course of action. In this example, the brain picks fear as the emotion, and the person picks "flight" as course of action in order to get away from the source of fear.