James-Lange theory

In psychology, a theory that sensory impressions resulting from exposure to an emotional situation are caused by physiological reactions. In this way emotions of pleasure, fear, or amusement may be seen as the result of changes of bodily activity; fear is the sensation of sweating and trembling rather than the emotional reaction to a terrifying situation.

It is named after the US psychologist William James and the Danish physician Carl Georg Lange (1834-1900), who arrived at this view independently in the 1880s.