Question

Leo and Caitlin are both experiencing feelings about their date tonight. Leo has had bad dates lately, and so he feels fear and dejection. Caitlin, meanwhile, has had very good dates, and so she feels excited and happy. According to Richard Lazarus’ appraisal theory,

1) Write the right answer 2) Explain why it is the right answer. 3) Explain why the other options are the wrong answer.

A) Leo and Caitlin have an immediate unconscious interpretation of the scenario, which leads them to simultaneously both label their feelings as either positive or negative and have the appropriate physiological response

B) Leo is able to identify his response as fear more quickly than Caitlin can identify her response as excitement because fear is more evolutionarily important and thus is processed more quickly

C) Leo and Caitlin experience different physiological responses to the impending date and interpret their emotional responses accordingly

D) Leo and Caitlin both experience a physiological response and feel either fear or excitement simultaneously

E) Leo would score high on neuroticism, while Caitlin would score high on agreeableness

Answer 1

The assertion that a fear response can be identified faster than an excitement response is related to evolutionary psychology. It is not a part of Lazarus' appraisal theory.

Option B) is incorrect.

Lazarus' appraisal theory doe not hold that physiological factors determine the emotional response.

Hence, Option C) is incorrect.

According to Richard Lazarus' appraisal theory, a person's response to the situation is not purely physiological. It has a cognitive dimension as well.

Hence, Option D) is incorrect as it does not account for cognitive factors.

Neuroticism and agreeableness are not a part of the framework for Richard Lazarus' appraisal theory. They are in fact part of the Big Five personality traits.

Option E) is incorrect.

Richard Lazarus' appraisal theory states that a person's immediate and unconscious appraisal (or evaluation) of a given stimulus determines his or her psychological response to the stimulus.

Hence, the correct answer is Option A).

This is because Leo and Caitlin had different immediate unconscious interpretations of the scenario which gave rise to their respective emotional responses. These emotional responses, in turn, influenced their physiological responses.