The James-Lange theory proposes that our experience of emotion is a result of our awareness of our physiological responses to emotion-arousing stimuli.
It's like riding a roller coaster. You don't realize you're scared because you see the steep drop; instead, you feel scared because your stomach flips and your heart races as you plummet down the track.
Stimulus: Any event or situation that evokes a response.
Arousal: A state of being awake and alert to one's surroundings; often associated with heightened physical activity or emotional excitement.
Awareness: Conscious knowledge or perception of something.
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