Appraisal determinants of discrete emotions

TLDR

The appraisal theory posits that five specific appraisals—motivational state, situational state, probability, legitimacy, and causal agency—combine to determine which of 13 discrete emotions (joy, relief, hope, liking, pride, distress, sorrow, fear, frustration, disliking, anger, regret, guilt) are experienced, and the theory’s structure and potential modifications are discussed. The study experimentally tests Roseman’s appraisal theory that links specific appraisal combinations to discrete emotional responses. The experiment involved 120 college students reading manipulated stories and rating protagonist emotion intensities. Results showed each appraisal significantly affected emotions, with combinations predicting relative intensities; predictions were strongest for motivational state, situational state, and probability, supporting the theory and warranting further testing.

Abstract

Abstract A theory specifying how appraisals of a situation determine one's emotional responses (Roseman, 1979) was subjected to an experimental test. According to the theory, particular combinations of 5 appraisals determine which of 13 qualitatively different emotions will be experienced in any given situation. The appraisals are: motivational state (rewarding/punishing), situational state (presendabsent), probability (certaiduncertain), legitimacy (positivehegative outcome deserved), and causal agency (circumstanced other person/self). The emotions whose occurrence they determine are joy, relief, hope, liking (“warmth-friendliness”), pride, distress, sorrow, fear, frustration, disliking (“coolness-unfriendliness”), anger, regret, and guilt. In the experiment, 120 college students read brief stories in which these appraisals were manipulated, and rated the intensities of various emotions felt by story protagonists. Results showed that each appraisal had a significant effect upon emotions, and that the particular combinations of appraisals specified by the theory predict the relative intensities of particular emotions, across a wide variety of situations. Theoretical predictions were more clearly supported for appraisals of motivational state, situational state and probability than for appraisals of legitimacy and agency. Results provide significant support for the theory, and suggest that it be subjected to further testing and development. Possible modifications in the theory are also discussed.