Faculty Articles
Cognitive and Physiological Antecedents of Threat and Challenge Appraisal
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
ISSN
0022-3514
Publication Date
7-1997
Abstract
Cognitive appraisal theories of stress and emotion propose that cognitive appraisals precede physiological responses, whereas peripheralist theories propose that physiological arousal precedes cognitive processes. Three studies examined this issue regarding threat and challenge responses to potential stress. Study 1 supported cognitive appraisal theory by demonstrating that threat and challenge cognitive appraisals and physiological responses could be elicited experimentally by manipulating instructional set. Studies 2 and 3, in contrast, found that manipulations of physiological response patterns consistent with challenge and threat did not result in corresponding changes in cognitive appraisal. Appraisals in Study 3, however, were related to subjective pain independent of the physiological manipulation. These studies suggest a central role for cognitive appraisal processes in elicitation of threat and challenge responses to potentially stressful situations.
DOI
10.1037/0022-3514.73.1.63
Volume
73
Issue
1
First Page
63
Last Page
72
NSUWorks Citation
Tomaka, J.,
Blascovich, J.,
Kibler, J. L.,
Ernst, J. M.
(1997). Cognitive and Physiological Antecedents of Threat and Challenge Appraisal. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73(1), 63-72.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/663