AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Cognitive appraisal is our interpretation or evaluation of an event that helps determine its stress impact.

Detailed explanation-2: -Cognitive stress appraisal is a self-care strategy based on individuals’ evaluation of how they perceive stressors. In primary appraisal, an individual’s evaluations are divided into ‘threat’ and ‘challenge’; threat describes anticipated harm/loss, and challenge describes a threat that can be met or overcome.

Detailed explanation-3: -Stress appraisal refers to the process by which individuals evaluate and cope with a stressful event. Stress appraisal theory is concerned with individuals’ evaluation of the event, rather than with the event per se. People differ in how they construe what is happening to them and their options for coping.

Detailed explanation-4: -Stress is the process by which we appraise and respond to stressors-events that challenge or threaten us. If we appraise an event as challenging, we will be aroused and focused in preparation for success. If we appraise an event as a threat, we will experience a stress reaction, and our health may suffer.

Detailed explanation-5: -When appraised as stressful, the stressor can be further appraised (secondary appraisal) as: (1) harm/loss resulting in damage to self or social esteem; (2) threat, which refers to a suspected pain; or (3) challenge, which allows for the opportunity for gain and growth.