A Cognitive Approach to Understanding Emotional Experience

Emotions are often seen as automatic responses to external events. However, the appraisal theory of emotions offers a different perspective. According to this theory, emotions are not simply triggered by events themselves, but by how individuals interpret or evaluate those events. In other words, emotions arise from meaning-making.

This theory sits within a broader cognitive framework in psychology, which emphasises the role of mental processes—such as judgment, perception, and interpretation—in shaping emotional experience.

What Is Appraisal Theory?

Appraisal theory proposes that individuals experience emotions based on their cognitive appraisals—their evaluations of how an event relates to their personal goals, values, and well-being. This idea is particularly useful in counselling and psychotherapy, where a client’s emotional response can often be traced back to deeply held beliefs or thought patterns.

One of the core assumptions of this theory is that emotion and cognition are deeply connected. The same external event can produce very different emotional responses in different people, depending on how they interpret what is happening.

Main Theoretical Models and Hypotheses

Several scholars have contributed to the development of appraisal theory. Below are some of the most influential hypotheses and models:

1. Lazarus’ Cognitive-Motivational-Relational Theory

Psychologist Richard Lazarus was a pioneer of appraisal theory in the 1960s and 1970s. His model emphasises two main types of appraisal:

• Primary appraisal – Individuals assess whether an event is personally significant. Is it beneficial, irrelevant, or harmful?
• Secondary appraisal – Individuals evaluate their capacity to cope. What resources (internal or external) are available to manage the situation?

According to Lazarus (1991), it is the interaction between primary and secondary appraisals that determines the specific emotion experienced.

For example, if a person appraises a job interview as a threat to their self-esteem (primary appraisal) and believes they lack the skills to perform well (secondary appraisal), anxiety may follow.

2. Scherer’s Component Process Model (CPM)

Klaus Scherer expanded on appraisal theory by identifying a sequence of appraisals that occur over time. His Component Process Model (1984, 2001) suggests that emotions are constructed from multiple, ongoing evaluations across several dimensions:

• Novelty – Is this situation new or expected?
• Pleasantness – Is it enjoyable or not?
• Goal relevance – Does it affect my goals?
• Coping potential – Can I influence the outcome?
• Norm compatibility – Is this consistent with my values and social norms?

According to Scherer, the pattern of these appraisals determines the quality, intensity, and expression of the emotion experienced.

3. Core Relational Themes

Building on his earlier work, Lazarus proposed that each emotion corresponds to a core relational theme—a recurring type of person-environment relationship that gives rise to a specific emotional state. For example:

• Anger – A demeaning offence against me or mine
• Fear – Facing an uncertain threat
• Guilt – Failing to live up to a moral standard
• Happiness – Progress toward a desired goal

These themes provide a framework for understanding how emotions emerge from specific patterns of meaning.

Implications for Counselling and Psychotherapy

Appraisal theory has significant implications for therapeutic practice. It supports the idea that emotions can be explored and modified through cognitive reflection and restructuring. Clients can be encouraged to:

• Identify how they are interpreting events
• Reflect on whether these interpretations are helpful or accurate
• Develop alternative appraisals that support emotional regulation

This approach aligns with the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), where shifting thoughts can lead to changes in emotions and behaviour. For example, reappraising a challenging situation as a learning opportunity, rather than a personal failure, may reduce feelings of shame and increase motivation.

Furthermore, appraisal theory offers a helpful framework for understanding individual differences in emotional responses, shaped by personal history, cultural background, and coping resources.

Conclusion

The appraisal theory of emotions provides a valuable lens through which we can understand the connection between thoughts, beliefs, and feelings. Rather than viewing emotions as passive reactions, this theory highlights the active role of interpretation and meaning in shaping emotional life.

In counselling, this perspective encourages both practitioner and client to explore not only what is felt, but why it is felt—and how those emotional experiences can shift when appraisals are brought into awareness and re-evaluated.