Appraisal Theory Overview, Assumptions, Varieties, Controversies

Authors: Ira J. Roseman, Craig A. Smith - Appraisal Processes in Emotion 2001 cited by 796

Abstract What is appraisal theory? In simplest form, its essence is the claim that emotions are elicited by evaluations (appraisals) of events and situations. For example, sadness felt when a romantic relationship ends may be elicited by the appraisals that something desired has been lost, with certainty, and cannot be recovered (Roseman, 1984; see, e.g., Frijda, 1986; Oatley & Johnson-Laird, 1987; Scherer, 1993b; Smith & Lazarus, 1993; Stein & Levine, 1987).