The Cannon-Bard theory of emotion is a physiological explanation of emotion developed by Walter

Cannon and Philip Bard. Cannon-Bard theory states that we feel emotions and experience
physiological reactions such as sweating, trembling and muscle tension simultaneously. More
specifically, it is suggested that emotions result when the thalamus sends a message to the brain in
response to a stimulus, resulting in a physiological reaction.
For example: I see a snake --> I am afraid --> I begin to tremble.
According to the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion, we react to a stimulus and experience the
associated emotion at the same time.
The Cannon-Bard theory of emotion differs from other theory of emotion such as the James-Lange
theory of emotion, which argues that physiological responses occur first and result and are the cause
of emotions.
Magda theory Appraisal theory is the idea that emotions are extracted from our evaluations (appraisals)
of events that cause specific reactions in different people. Essentially, our appraisal of a situation causes
an emotional, or affective, response that is going to be based on that appraisal. An example of this is
going on a first date. If the date is perceived as positive, one might feel happiness, joy,
giddiness,excitement, and/or anticipation, because they have appraised this event as one that could have
positive long term effects, i.e. starting a new relationship, engagement, or even marriage. On the other
hand, if the date is perceived negatively, then our emotions, as a result, might
include dejection, sadness, emptiness, or fear. (Scherer et al., 2001)
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Reasoning and understanding of
ones emotional reaction becomes important for future appraisals as well. The important aspect of the
appraisal theory is that it accounts for individual variances of emotional reactions to the same event.
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Appraisal theories of emotion are theories that state that emotions result from peoples interpretations and
explanations of their circumstances even in the absence of physiological arousal (Aronson,
2005).
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There are two basic approaches; the structural approach and process model. These models both
provide an explanation for the appraisal of emotions and explain in different ways how emotions can
develop. In the absence of physiological arousal we decide how to feel about a situation after we have
interpreted and explained the phenomena. Thus the sequence of events is as follows: event, thinking,
and simultaneous events of arousal and emotion. Social Psychologists have used this theory to explain
and predict coping mechanisms and peoples patterns of emotionality. By contrast, for
example, personality psychology studies emotions as a function of a person's personality, and thus does
not take into account the person's appraisal, or cognitive response, to a situation.
The main controversy surrounding these theories argues that emotions cannot happen without
physiological arousal.