Editing Emotion (section)

==== Cognitive Appraisal Theory ====
One of the main proponents of this view was [[Richard Lazarus]] who argued that emotions must have some cognitive [[intentionality]]. The cognitive activity involved in the interpretation of an emotional context may be conscious or unconscious and may or may not take the form of conceptual processing.

Lazarus' theory is very influential; emotion is a disturbance that occurs in the following order:
# '''Cognitive appraisal''': The individual assesses the event cognitively, which cues the emotion.
# '''Physiological changes''': The cognitive reaction starts biological changes such as increased heart rate or pituitary adrenal response.
# '''Action''': The individual feels the emotion and chooses how to react.

For example: Jenny sees a snake.
# Jenny cognitively assesses the snake in her presence. Cognition allows her to understand it as a danger.
# Her brain activates the adrenal glands which pump adrenalin through her blood stream, resulting in increased heartbeat.
# Jenny screams and runs away.

Lazarus stressed that the quality and intensity of emotions are controlled through cognitive processes. These processes underline [[coping strategies]] that form the emotional reaction by altering the relationship between the person and the environment.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}