How Does Cognitive Appraisal Influence Our Emotional Responses and Behavior?

The term “cognitive appraisal” refers to the subjective interpretation of the stimuli. Each individual has their interpretation leading to unique emotional responses. Cognitive appraisal can be done unconsciously or even consciously. The James-Lange suggests that cognitive appraisal may occur unconsciously, including physiological changes such as increased heart rate, way before the emotion associated with the stimulus is detected. Whereas the Schachter-Singer theory proposes a two-factor approach with physical arousal occurring first, followed by the conscious labeling of our emotions.

Cognitive appraisal theory is a psychological theory that was developed by Susan Folkman and Richard Lazarus, American psychologists who published their findings in 1984. It originated when the theorists noticed people exhibiting different emotions to the same eliciting event. This made them wonder why so. Later, they explored the thought that each one interpreted the event differently which might be the only reason that made sense. The theory explains how people experience emotions and exhibit behaviours based on their interpretation of the event and not the event itself.

Read More: James Langes Theory of Emotions

Two Views of the Cognitive Appraisal Theory

Cognitive appraisal theory emphasizes the connections between emotions and cognitive appraisals. The theory holds two main views,

• Interpretation-Driven Emotions: This view states that our emotions stem based on our interpretation of an event. Different interpretations of the same event can lead to different emotional responses. For example, when we face an unexpected event, some people can feel fear, while some might perceive it as an obstacle to their success, and feel anger.
• Emotion-Driven Appraisal: This view, on the other hand, suggests that emotions can come before in time than cognitive appraisals. Here, emotional experiences—often manifested through physiological changes or behavioural responses—occur first. For instance, we might feel sudden anger without knowing why, and only later we engage in cognitive appraisal to identify the underlying cause of the emotion.

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Various Models of Cognitive Appraisal Theory

1. Lazarus’ Transactional Model of Stress

The theory mainly focuses on how cognitive appraisals influence our ability to cope with stressful events. Lazarus defined two types of cognitive appraisals namely,

• Primary appraisal
• Secondary appraisal

Primary appraisal is the initial reaction we give to a stimulus evaluating it based on our perception of whether the said stimulus is harmful or benign. Secondary appraisal thinks about the next step on how the situation should be handled. It also makes use of past experiences in memory to determine how similar stimuli were handled previously. For example, when someone yells to watch out, and then we see a ball heading straight towards us. Our primary appraisal is our first reaction which is fear or anxiety. Our secondary appraisal prompts us to decide on a course of action, in this case, we try to move out from that place.

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2. Scherer’s Component Process Model

The component process model proposed by Klaus Scherer emphasizes how cognitive appraisal leads to psychological and physiological responses. In addition to Lazarus’ two types of appraisal, he introduced four distinct points to consider,

• The perceived relevance of an event to the individual
• How the event aligns with the individual’s values and self-concept.
• The individual’s perceived ability to cope with those consequences
• The immediate and long-term consequences of the event for the individual and their goals

Read More: Exploring Self-Concept, Authenticity, and Self-Esteem in Humanistic Psychology

3. Roseman’s Appraisal Theory of Emotions

Ira Roseman formulated a theory that states positive emotions result from events that individuals evaluate as being consistent with their motivations. Negative emotions, on the other hand, are the result of events that individuals evaluate as inconsistent with their motivations.

4. The Structural Model of the Cognitive Appraisal Theory

The structural model serves as a framework for understanding the differences between people’s cognitive appraisals and emotional experiences. It synthesizes components from the three previous models and is based on Lazarus’ cognitive appraisal theory. It consists of three main components:

• Relational: The relational component addresses the dynamics between a person and his or her environment. It focuses on how context affects a person’s experience.
• Motivational: The motivational component explains the importance of the situation or stimulus to the individual’s goals and values. Emphasizing relevance to their aspirations.
• Cognitive: The cognitive component refers to a person’s assessment of a situation. This includes evaluating and interpreting what happened. Together, these elements help explain how cognitive appraisals lead to emotional responses.

The structural model helps researchers and individuals break down complex concepts and understand them more effectively. Using these three components, we can more clearly understand specific events and the emotions associated with them. This helps us predict how a person will respond to a given situation. A person’s emotional response is influenced by his or her evaluation of a situation. For example, If individuals believe someone has wronged them, they appraise it as anger.

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Universal or Socially Constructed?

When arose the question, “Are appraisals socially constructed or universal?”. Many of the researchers said it was both. A study by Scherer (1997) found that emotional events, such as joy, trigger similar cognitive appraisals among people from different countries. However, the study also identified cultural differences in cognitive appraisals when came to certain emotions. It suggests that while appraisals may be universal, some are influenced by cultural context.

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Conclusion

Cognitive appraisal theory explains how people experience emotions and exhibit behaviours based on their interpretation of the event and not the event itself. This framework deepens our understanding of emotions. The structural model emerged from the participation of many psychologists. including Roseman, Lazarus, Scherer, and Folkman, their insights shaped a common theory. This facilitates predicting how individuals will respond to different situations. By enhancing understanding of emotional responses, this theory helps identify individual needs. and develop appropriate professional interventions when necessary.

FAQs

1. What is the role of cognitive appraisal in emotions?

Cognitive appraisal helps us to evaluate a stimulus and then respond to it. That is if we perceive a stimulus as happy, we respond to it with happiness whereas if we perceive it as stress-inducing, then definitely we will elicit a negative response.

2. Who discovered cognitive appraisal theory?

Cognitive appraisal theory is a psychological theory developed by Richard Lazarus and Susan Folkman, American psychologists who published their findings in 1984.

3. What are the types of cognitive appraisal?

Lazarus defined two types of cognitive appraisals namely, Primary appraisal & Secondary appraisal

4. Is cognitive appraisal done consciously or unconsciously?

Cognitive appraisal can be done consciously or unconsciously. In many cases, a person may begin to experience the physical symptoms of an emotion before they can consciously evaluate a situation. Other times, people evaluate and deliberately control the level of their experience. This process often depends on the individual’s personal characteristics and coping strategies.