Wize University Psychology Textbook > Emotion & Motivation
Appraisals & Action Tendencies
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Appraisals & Action Tendencies
Appraisal is the conscious or unconscious evaluation and interpretation of the emotion-relevant aspects of an event or stimulus. Appraisal affects how we emotionally experience events.
We appraise events based on:
- self-relevance - does this affect me?
- importance - does this matter?
- our ability to cope - can I handle this?
- our ability to control the event - can I change this?
Action tendency - a preparedness to engage in a particular set of emotion-relevant behaviours. Action tendencies are usually categorized into approach and avoidance
Example - when you are afraid, you tend to move away (avoidance). When you are interested or intrigued, you tend to move closer (approach)
Practice: Appraisals & Action Tendencies
Roger and Susan encounter a fox blocking their path while on a hike. Roger is terrified of the fox, because he was once attacked by one and bitten quite badly. Susan is not scared at all. She knows that if she claps or yells the fox will probably run away. Their reactions differ because their appraisals differ in: