Cognitive appraisal
Cognitive appraisal (also called simply 'appraisal') is the subjective
The reframing of stimuli and experiences, called cognitive reappraisal, has been found "one of the most effective strategies for emotion regulation."[1]
Conceptualizations and theories
Lazarus' transactional model of stress
This model uses cognitive appraisal as a way to explain responses to stressful events.[2]
According to this theory, two distinct forms of cognitive appraisal must occur in order for an individual to feel stress in response to an event; Lazarus called these stages "primary appraisal" and "secondary appraisal".[2] During primary appraisal, an event is interpreted as dangerous to the individual or threatening to their personal goals. During the secondary appraisal, the individual evaluates their ability or resources to be able to cope with a specific situation .[2]
Scherer's component process model
The component process model proposed by Klaus Scherer utilizes cognitive appraisal to explain an individual's psychological and physiological response to situations. Scherer's model makes additions to the Lazarus’ transactional model regarding how many appraisals occur. Rather than just two levels of appraisal in response to an event (primary and secondary), Scherer's model suggests four distinct appraisals occur: (a) the direct effects or relevance that an individual perceives an event being to them (b) the consequences an event has both immediately and long-term to an individual and their goals (c) the ability an individual perceives they can cope with the consequences of an event (d) the ways in which the events are perceived to result from an individual's values and self-concept.[3] This model and additional work by Scherer notably highlights not only psychological responses, but many physiological responses according to how events are appraised by an individual.[3]
Roseman's appraisal theory of emotions
Strategies
Cognitive reappraisal is one of the most studied mechanisms of the emotion regulation form referred to as cognitive change.[5] It encompasses a variety of different strategies, such as positive reappraisal (creating and focusing on a positive aspect of the stimulus),[6] decentering (reinterpreting an event by broadening one's perspective to see "the bigger picture"),[7] or fictional reappraisal (adopting or emphasizing the belief that event is not real, that it is for instance "just a movie" or "just my imagination").[8]
Practical applications
The way in which stress is cognitively appraised has been found to influence mental health.