What is the James-Lange theory of emotion?

The James-Lange theory proposes that emotions result from our awareness of physiological responses to stimuli. You do not cry because you are sad; you feel sad because you notice that you are crying. The sequence is: event, physiological arousal, then conscious emotion. Seeing a bear triggers racing heart and running, and the awareness of these bodily reactions creates the feeling of fear. This theory predicts that different emotions should produce different physiological patterns.