After the Covid-19 pandemic, Vikas would feel stressed every time he saw any person sneezing or coughing. According to cognitive theory of stress appraisal, Vikas appraised the situation as:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Possible Harm
Lazarus distinguished two types of appraisal. In primary appraisal a new or changing situation is seen as positive, neutral or negative, and negative events are appraised for their possible harm, threat or challenge.
Option (1) Possible Harm — Correct. Vikas sees every sneeze or cough as a source of possible damage to his health after the pandemic, so he appraises the situation as negative, for its possible harm. An assessment of such possible future damage is called a threat, which is why it stresses him each time.
Option (2) Emotional response — Incorrect. Emotional responses are reactions to stress, such as fear, anxiety, embarrassment or anger. They follow the appraisal; they are not a way of appraising the situation.
Option (3) Cognitive response — Incorrect. Cognitive responses to stress include beliefs about the harm or threat an event poses, an inability to concentrate, and intrusive thoughts. They too are a result of stress, not one of the outcomes of primary appraisal.
Option (4) Neutral — Incorrect. An event appraised as neutral causes no stress. Vikas feels stressed every time, so he has not seen the situation as neutral.
NCERT (2025-26): “Nature of Stress … Lazarus has distinguished between two types of appraisal, i.e. primary and secondary. Primary appraisal refers to the perception of a new or changing environment as positive, neutral or negative in its consequences. Negative events are appraised for their possible harm, threat or challenge. Harm is the assessment of the damage that has already been done by an event. Threat is the assessment of possible future damage that may be brought about by the event.…” “Nature of Stress … The emotional reactions to experience of stress include negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, embarrassment, anger, depression or even denial. The behavioural responses are virtually limitless, depending on the nature of the stressful event. Confrontative action against the stressor (fight) or withdrawal from the threatening event (flight) are two general categories of behavioural responses. Cognitive responses include beliefs about the harm or threat an event poses and beliefs about its causes or controllability. These include responses such as inability to concentrate, and intrusive, repetitive or morbid thoughts.…” |