The James-Lange theory of emotion proposes that emotions arise from our interpretations of physiological arousal. Specifically, it suggests that: 1) We encounter a stimulating event that causes physiological reactions like increased heart rate or sweating. 2) We interpret our bodily sensations as specific emotions, like interpreting increased heart rate as fear. 3) Then we experience the subjective feeling of that emotion. The theory argues that we feel sad because we cry and feel happy because we smile, rather than the other way around. However, it has been criticized for not accounting for the speed of emotional experiences versus physiological changes.