An S-shaped relationship between changes in appraisals and changes in emotions.
Previous research on appraisal theories of emotion has shown that emotions and appraisals are related but has not specified the nature of the relationships. This research examined the functional forms of appraisal-emotion relationships and demonstrated that for all seven appraisals studied, appraisals relate to emotions in an S-shaped (ogival) fashion: Changes in appraisals at extreme levels are associated with only small changes in emotions, but changes at moderate levels are associated with substantial changes in emotions. With a few exceptions, ogival relationships were found for the relationships between seven appraisals (Goal Achievement Expectancy, Agency, Control, Certainty, Fairness, Pleasantness, and Motive Congruence) and numerous relevant emotions across different sample-types, cultures, and methods.
Tong
Eddie M W
EM
Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore. psytmwe@nus.edu.sg
Ellsworth
Phoebe C
PC
Bishop
George D
GD
D000124:Achievement; D000786:Anger; D003071:Cognition; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D004644:Emotions; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007600:Judgment; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012938:Social Perception; D055815:Young Adult