The Cannon-Bard theory argues that physiological arousal and emotional experiences occur simultaneously in response to an event. When walking alone at night and hearing footsteps, one would experience increased heart rate, breathing, and trembling of the body (physiological arousal) at the same time as feeling fear (the emotion). The theory assumes that emotional states and physiological reactions are triggered independently but simultaneously by the same nerve impulse. It rejects the idea that physiological arousal alone causes emotions.

2. INTRODUCTION
Cannon and later another
psychologist Philip bard
conclude that body arousal
and emotional experiences
occur simultaneously

3. DEFINITION
The Cannon-Bard theory argues that we
experience physiological arousal and emotional at
the same time, but gives no attention to the role
of thoughts or outward behavior.

4. CANNON THEORY
AROUSAL
EMOTION
EVENT

5. EXAMPLE
You are walking down a dark alley late at night. You hear
footsteps behind you and you begin to tremble, your
heart beats faster, and yourbreathing deepens. At the
same time as these physiological changes occur you
also experience the emotion of fear.

6. EXPLANATION
•THE THEORY ASSUME THAT EMOTIONAL STATES AND THE
PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIONS WORK INDEPENDENTLY, BUT ARE
TRIGGERED BY THE SAME NERVE IMPULSE SIMULTANEOUSLY
•CANNON AND BARD VIEWED THAT WE EXPERIENCE EMOTIONS
NORMALLY BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED EMOTION OCCUR
SEPARATELY. FORUM THE BODY’S AROUSAL .

7. CRITICISM
•CANNON BARD THEORY SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN ACCURATE IN IT
REJECTION OF JAMES, LANGE THEORY THAT PHYSIOLOGICAL
AROUSAL ALONE ACCOUNTS FOR EMOTIONS.
•IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT HYPOTHALAMUS AND LIMBIC SYSTEM
PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN EMOTION AND NOT THE THALAMUS.

8. This picture not
belongs to Canon
Bard Theory but a
different type of
body behavior who
changes when
emotion changes.