AP Psychology Lesson: Emotion and Its Impact on Behavior

Unit: Social Psychology and Personality
Lesson: 6 of 6
AP Exam Weighting: 15%–25%

Warm-Up: Emotion in Action

Write 1–2 sentences for each:

How does feeling angry change how you act with friends?
Why might happiness lead to helping others?
Describe one time an emotion changed a decision you made.

Key Concepts

Emotion

A coordinated response that includes:

Physiological arousal: body changes such as increased heart rate, sweating, trembling
Cognitive appraisal: interpreting what those body changes mean
Behavioral expression: actions, posture, facial expressions, tone of voice

Emotion is not only a feeling — it is a combination of body, thoughts, and behavior working together.

James-Lange Theory

This theory argues that the physical reaction comes first, and the emotional experience is a result of interpreting that reaction.

Sequence:
Stimulus → Physiological arousal → Emotion

Example:
Seeing a growling dog → heart pounds → the pounding heart creates the feeling of fear.

Key idea:
“I feel fear because my body is reacting.”

Cannon-Bard Theory

This theory states that the brain triggers both the physical reaction AND the emotional experience at the same moment, not one after the other.

Sequence:
Stimulus → Brain signals → Emotion + Arousal simultaneously

Example:
Seeing a growling dog → the brain creates fear and triggers a pounding heart at the same time.

Key idea:
“My emotion and physical response happen together.”

Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory

Emotion depends on:

Physical arousal, and
Cognitive labeling of that arousal based on context.

Sequence:
Arousal → Interpretation → Emotion

Example:
Racing heart + loud music + concert → “I’m excited.”
Racing heart + dark alley → “I’m scared.”

Key idea:
“My emotion depends on how I label my arousal.”

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Holding a facial expression sends signals to the brain that influence emotional experience.

Example:
Smiling can increase happiness.
Frowning can increase stress.

Key idea:
“My facial expression helps create the emotion I feel.”

Culture and Emotion

Cultural “display rules” guide how, when, and where emotions should be shown.

Individualist cultures (US, Canada): open expression encouraged
Collectivist cultures (Japan, China): emotional control valued to maintain group harmony
Anger is often suppressed in collectivist cultures
Pride may be more openly expressed in individualist cultures

Culture shapes emotional expression and behavior.

Concept Questions

Define emotion: ________________________________________________
Define James-Lange theory: ______________________________________
Define facial feedback hypothesis: ________________________________
Explain how the Cannon-Bard theory influences a behavior (example):

Explain how the two-factor theory influences a behavior (different example):

How do emotions influence decision-making in social situations?

Why might cultural norms affect emotional expression?

How could the facial feedback hypothesis be used to improve mood?

Activity 1: Which Theory Is It?

For each example, identify the correct theory and explain why.

Example	Theory	Why?
Smiling leads to feeling happier.
Heart pounding and fear occurring at the same time.
Heart racing labeled as excitement after a goal.
Noticing shaking hands and then feeling nervous.

Activity 2: Emotion → Behavior Map

Match each emotion to a behavioral outcome and explain the psychological reason.

Emotion	Likely Behavior	Why?
Fear	Avoiding risks
Happiness	Helping behaviors
Anger	Confrontation or impulsivity
Surprise	Heightened attention
Sadness	Withdrawal or seeking comfort

Activity 3: Culture & Emotion Sorting

Sort each behavior into individualist norms or collectivist norms and justify the choice.

Behaviors:

Public celebration of personal achievements
Direct confrontation with someone who caused offense
Suppressing anger to maintain unity
Smiling at strangers
Showing sadness openly in public

Activity 4: Emotion Appraisal Challenge

For each physiological state, generate two possible emotional interpretations based on the two-factor theory.

Physiological states:

Heart racing
Sweaty palms
Shaking hands
Butterflies in stomach
Rapid breathing

Then answer:

Which interpretation seems most likely in real life?
How could misinterpretation lead to emotional mistakes?

Activity 5: Facial Feedback Mini-Experiment

Hold each expression for 10 seconds:

Big smile
Frown
Raised eyebrows
Pursed lips

Then answer:

Which expression changed your mood the most?
How does your reaction support or challenge the facial feedback hypothesis?
Why might the brain respond to facial cues?
What real-life strategies could use this idea to improve emotional well-being?

Activity 6: Scenario Analysis

Scenario: A person feels anxious before giving a speech and decides to avoid speaking.

Explain:

How physical reactions (James-Lange) influence the avoidance
How facial expression may reinforce anxiety (facial feedback)
How this emotional pattern might continue over time

Activity 7: Multi-Theory Case Application

Scenario: A person feels excitement in a concert crowd as their heart races.**

Explain using:

Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory: How arousal + context label create excitement
Cannon-Bard Theory: How arousal and emotion could arise simultaneously
Possible misattribution: How the same arousal in a different setting might be labeled as fear

Then evaluate:
Which theory seems most convincing for this situation, and why?

Class Assignment

Study Summary 1 (2018 Study – Expanded)

Researchers found that participants who were instructed to smile during a stressful task showed lower heart rates, reported less stress, and completed the task more efficiently. This supports the facial feedback hypothesis by showing that altering facial muscles can influence emotional experience and physiological stress responses.
However, effects were weaker when smiles were forced unnaturally, suggesting limits to facial feedback.

Question:
How does this demonstrate facial feedback’s impact on emotion, and what factors might reduce its effectiveness?

Study Summary 2

A cross-cultural analysis compared participants from the US and Japan. Americans were more likely to express anger openly when treated unfairly, while Japanese participants were more likely to suppress anger to maintain group harmony. Physiological arousal was similar across groups, but the expression differed because of cultural display rules.
Social expectations, upbringing, and cultural values shaped emotional behavior more than raw emotion itself.

Question:
How does this study show the role of culture in emotion, and what factor (e.g., gender norms, upbringing, collectivist values) might contribute to expression differences?

AP Exam Practice

Explain how the James-Lange theory, Cannon-Bard theory, and Schachter-Singer two-factor theory interact to influence one behavior (such as emotional response, decision-making, or social interaction).
Provide:

One example of James-Lange
One example of Cannon-Bard
One example of Two-Factor Theory
An analysis of how these three perspectives combine to shape the final behavior

Closure

Instructions: Write a brief summary (2–3 sentences) of two key ideas you learned today about how emotions influence behavior.

Extended Practice

Instructions: Complete the tasks below based on today’s lesson to reinforce AP skills.

Review your answers from this lesson.
Write a detailed paragraph (5–7 sentences) applying today’s topic to a real-life behavior (e.g., how emotions affect your interactions or decisions). Include references to James-Lange theory, Cannon-Bard theory, and facial feedback hypothesis, and explain their interaction.
Find a short article or study on emotions and behavior (e.g., via apa.org) and write 2–3 sentences summarizing its relevance to today’s lesson. Cite the source (e.g., website or article title).

Last modified: Tuesday, 25 November 2025, 1:32 AM