PSYC 3301 Lecture 10

Cognitive-Motivational-Relational Theory (CMRT)

Appraising Events as Stressful:

  • Cognitive appraisal: Situational interpretation. Mental process by which people asses two factors:

  • Primary appraisal: Whether the demand threatens them (psychologically or physically)

  • What is at stake?

  • Secondary appraisal: An evaluation of what can be done in the situation, which depends on an individual’s available resources, level of perceived control, and expectations regarding what is likely to occur in the future

  • What can be done?

Primary Appraisal

  • What is at stake? What does it mean for me?

  • 3 initial judgements

  • Irrelevant: stressor unlikely to impact you

  • Being ill in the past has not hurt you

  • Benign- positive: stressor might work to your advantage

  • Being ill can let you skip a test

  • Stressful: stressor might harm you!

  • Being ill could lead to death

Secondary Appraisal

  • What can be done?

  • As we engage in primary appraisal we are concurrently comparing it to the resources we have to determine if we can cope with the stressor

  • Especially if we appraise something as stressful

  • Must determine if we can overcome harm, threat, or challenge

  • Ex. “No problem, I can do it” “I can’t do it, I know I’ll fail” “I can do it with Justin's help”

Psychological Experiences of Stress:

  • 3 additional judgements if you appraise it as stressful:

  • Harm-loss: An evaluation of a situation in which psychological damage has already been done and the loss is irrevocable

  • Threat: An evaluation or perception of a situation where an individual anticipates harm might occur or is likely to occur

  • Challenge: An evaluation or perception that although there are obstacles in the way, they can be overcome

Neurophysiological Effects of Stress & Emotions:

  • Emotions trigger physiological processes automatically (preparation for action)

  • Respiration rate, heart rate, cardiovascular activity, body temperature, and skin conductance

  • Hormones (cortisol and epinephrine) released in body

  • Threat and challenge appraisals have their own cardiovascular pattern

  • Increased heart rate, stroke volume, and global cardiac output

  • The relationship between emotions, physiological processes, and performance is complex

  • Athletes can learn to regulate emotions and perform despite feeling anxious, scared, or joyful

Theory of Threat & Challenge States:

**FILL AFTER WATCHING LECTURE**

Emotions:

  • Emotions are a response to and event

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