"I think I'm afraid; therefore, I am afraid." Name the theory of emotion that this statement characterizes.

A) the James-Lange theory
B) activation theory
C) cognitive arousal theory
D) the Cannon-Bard theory

The statement "I think I'm afraid; therefore, I am afraid" characterizes the cognitive arousal theory (also known as the two-factor theory of emotion), which posits that emotions are determined by a cognitive appraisal of the situation, followed by the arousal. This theory suggests that the recognition and interpretation of an emotion occur after the initial physiological response, emphasizing the role of thought processes in the identification and experience of emotions.