According to Lazarus and his colleagues, the interpretation of a new…

According to Lazarus and his colleagues, the interpretation of a new environment as positive, negative or neutral is referred to as :

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → Primary appraisal

Lazarus distinguished two types of appraisal: primary and secondary.

Option (1) Rudimentary appraisal — Incorrect. There is no such appraisal in the theory; Lazarus spoke only of primary and secondary appraisal.

Option (2) Social appraisal — Incorrect. This is not one of Lazarus’ two types either. Social resources come into the theory only as part of secondary appraisal, among the resources a person counts on to cope.

Option (3) Primary appraisal — Correct. Primary appraisal refers to the perception of a new or changing environment as positive, neutral or negative in its consequences. Negative events are further appraised for their possible harm, threat or challenge.

Option (4) Secondary appraisal — Incorrect. Secondary appraisal comes after an event is seen as stressful: it is the assessment of one’s coping abilities and resources and whether they will be sufficient to meet the harm, threat or challenge.

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. Challenge appraisals are associated with more confident expectations of the ability to cope with the stressful event, the potential to overcome and even profit from the event. When we perceive an event as stressful, we are likely to make a secondary appraisal, which is the assessment of one’s coping abilities and resources and whether they will be sufficient to meet the harm, threat or challenge of the event. These resources may be mental, physical, personal or social.…”