Answer :
Final answer:
The facial feedback hypothesis is most challenged by the finding that individuals with facial nerve damage can still experience happiness without smiling, as this hypothesis suggests expressions influence emotions. The correct answer is option: d) Facial feedback hypothesis.
Explanation:
The idea that people with facial nerve damage who cannot smile still experience happiness is particularly problematic for the facial feedback hypothesis. The facial feedback hypothesis suggests that the act of smiling can actually contribute to the feeling of happiness, implying that the physical expression of an emotion can influence the emotional experience itself.
However, if individuals with facial nerve damage still experience happiness without the ability to smile, it indicates that while facial expressions can intensify emotional experiences according to some research, they are not absolutely necessary for the emotion to occur. This challenges the facial feedback hypothesis directly, whereas other theories, such as the Cannon-Bard theory and James-Lange theory are not based on the expression of emotions but rather on physiological arousal and its cognitive interpretations.
