Appraisal Theory

1
Appraisal Theory

• A Cognitive Theory of Emotion

Exactly How much thinking will be involved?
2
Magna Arnold

• Critic of James
• Distinguished between Mere Perception and
  Emotional Perception (Sense Judgments)

3
Affect Without Inference

• Robert Zajonc

• Argued that appraisal (as defined by Lazarus) is
  not necessary
• Evidence
• Mere Exposure
• Facial Feedback Hypothesis

4
Cognitive Motivational Relational Theory of
Emotion (Richard Lazarus)

• Proposes that emotion is produced by a specific
  pattern of appraisal

5
CMRT Basic Principles

• Principle 1
• Appraisal is necessary and sufficient for the
  experience of emotion
• Appraisal
• A form of personal meaning consisting of
  evaluations of the significance of this knowledge
  for well-being

6
CMRT Basic Principles

• Principle 2
• Emotions are responses to changes in
  person-environment relationship

7
Core Relational Themes

• Individual appraisal components that combine to
  reveal a larger relational meaning of the
  person-environment encounter which underlie each
  specific emotion
• Primary Appraisal
• Determines whether the event is helpful or
  harmful to well being
• Secondary Appraisal
• Identifies cause and determines coping abilities

8
(No Transcript)
9
(No Transcript)
10
Core Relational Themes

• A demeaning offense against others
• Facing uncertain threat
• Facing an immediate, concrete, overwhelming
  physical danger
• Transgressing a moral imperative
• Making progress toward the realization of a goal

• Anger
• Anxiety
• Fear
• Guilt
• Happiness