AP Psychology Lesson: Emotion and Its Impact on Behavior

Unit: Social Psychology and Personality | Lesson: 6 of 6 | Topic: Emotion and Its Impact on Behavior
AP Exam Weighting: 15%–25% of exam score 
Instructions: Complete this lesson during class by filling in the blanks and answering questions. All information needed is provided or will be researched in class. This lesson prepares you for the AP Psychology exam by exploring how emotions influence behavior. Use the provided spaces to write your answers clearly, focusing on applying concepts critically.

Warm-Up

Purpose: Get you thinking about how emotions affect behavior.
Questions:

  1. How does feeling angry change how you act with friends?

  2. Why might happiness lead to helping others?
    Your Answers: Write a short response (1–2 sentences) for each question.

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Key Concepts

Instructions: Read the information below and answer the questions to learn core AP concepts. For definitions, write them in your own words based on the content or look up a different definition if directed by your teacher (e.g., via apa.org or Google Scholar).
Content: Emotion is a complex state involving physiological, cognitive, and behavioral responses. James-Lange theory suggests emotions arise from physical responses (e.g., heart racing causes fear). Cannon-Bard theory argues emotions and physical responses occur simultaneously. Schachter-Singer two-factor theory emphasizes cognitive appraisal and physiological arousal (e.g., labeling a racing heart as excitement). Example: Feeling joy after a win leads to celebrating (behavior). Facial feedback hypothesis suggests facial expressions influence emotions (e.g., smiling boosts happiness). Emotions shape behaviors like aggression or cooperation. Cultural norms affect emotional expression (e.g., collectivist cultures suppress anger).

  1. Define emotion in your own words: _______________________________

  2. Define James-Lange theory in your own words: _______________________________

  3. Define facial feedback hypothesis in your own words: _______________________________

  4. Explain how the Cannon-Bard theory influences a behavior, using a specific example:

  5. Explain how the two-factor theory influences a behavior, using a different example:

  6. How do emotions influence decision-making in social situations?

  7. Why might cultural norms affect emotional expression?

  8. How could the facial feedback hypothesis be applied to improve mood?

Guided Activity

Instructions: Work in pairs to complete the two tasks below. Write your answers and be prepared to share one key point from each task with the class.
Task 1: Scenario Analysis: Scenario: A student feels anxious before a speech and avoids it. Analyze how the James-Lange theory and facial feedback hypothesis contribute to this behavior. For example, consider how physical responses or facial expressions shape their anxiety.
Your Response for Task 1: Explain the role of each concept in the behavior.

Class Share for Task 1: Note one point you’ll share.

Task 2: Case Application: Imagine a person feels excited during a concert due to a racing heart. Apply the concepts of Schachter-Singer two-factor theory and Cannon-Bard theory to explain their emotion. For example, evaluate how cognitive appraisal or simultaneous responses affect their excitement.
Your Response for Task 2: Apply the concepts to explain the person’s emotion.

Class Share for Task 2: Note one point you’ll share.

Class Assignment: Refer to the assignment file for this lesson

Instructions: Complete the tasks below to deepen your understanding of emotions.
Study Summary 1: A 2018 study found that smiling (facial feedback hypothesis) reduced stress responses in participants during a task.
Question 1: How does this study demonstrate the role of facial feedback in emotion, and what might limit its effectiveness?

Study Summary 2: A 2020 study showed that cultural norms influenced whether participants expressed anger openly or suppressed it, supporting the role of culture in emotion.
Question 2: Evaluate how this study illustrates the impact of culture on emotional behavior, and suggest one factor that might influence expression differences.

AP Exam Connection: This practices analyzing and evaluating research, a key skill for FRQs.

AP Exam Practice

Instructions: Answer the question below. We’ll review answers as a class to learn exam strategies.
Free-Response Question (FRQ):
Explain how the James-Lange theory, Cannon-Bard theory, and Schachter-Singer two-factor theory interact to influence a specific behavior (e.g., emotional response, decision-making, or social interaction). Provide one example for each theory (James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, two-factor) and analyze how they interact to shape the 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.

  1. Review your answers from this lesson.

  2. 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.

  3. 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: Wednesday, 6 August 2025, 8:04 PM