Appraisal Theories Of Emotion Research Articles

Unveiling an exclusive link: Predicting behavior with personality, situation perception, and affect in a preregistered experience sampling study.

Affect and situation perception are intertwined in any given situation, but the extent to which both predict behavior jointly and uniquely has not yet been systematically examined so far. Using 2 studies with experience sampling methodology (ESM), we examine how trait-like variables (Big Six, trait affect, general situation experience) and state-like variables (momentary affect, happiness, and situation perception) account for variance in self-reported behavioral states of the Big Six. In Study 1, we reanalyzed data from Sherman, Rauthmann, Brown, Serfass, and Jones (2015) and found that situation perception explained variance in self-reported behavior in logically coherent ways, but only after considering happiness as an additional predictor. These results were replicated in preregistered Study 2, in which positive and negative affect were additionally assessed as distinct variables. Based on both studies, we conclude that personality traits, affect, and situation perception contribute uniquely to the explanation of self-reported behavior in daily life. Importantly, situation perceptions and affect do overlap, but they are neither the same nor redundant with each other. Indeed, theoretically justified and logically coherent links between situation perceptions and behavioral states remain intact once affect is controlled for, while the links not predicted by theory disappear. These results have implications for personality theories as well as appraisal theories of emotion. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Admired and disgusted? Third parties’ paradoxical emotional reactions and behavioral consequences towards others’ unethical pro‐organizational behavior

AbstractUnethical pro‐organizational behavior (UPB) is often visible to co‐workers; however, reactions to UPB are rarely considered in empirical research in spite of their importance to the social dynamics in the workplace. Drawing upon appraisal theory of emotion and the behavioral ethics literature, we predict that observing UPB would lead third parties to experience admiration due to thepro‐organizationalnature of UPB; these third parties would in turn be motivated to display more helping behavior towards the UPB actor. Conversely, we predict that observing UPB would lead third parties to experience disgust due to theunethicalnature of UPB; these third parties would dis‐identify themselves from the UPB actor by instigating incivility. Meanwhile, they would disengage themselves from the UPB actor by avoiding them in subsequent interactions. In addition, the observing employees might also engage in action‐oriented behavior such as whistle‐blowing behavior to sanction the UPB actor. Across an experience‐sampling study with three daily assessments as well as an experimental study, we find support for these predictions. Furthermore, we find that third parties’ moral attentiveness moderates the link between observed UPB and disgust, such that observed UPB leads to heightened feelings of disgust only when third parties have high levels of moral attentiveness. We conclude by discussing the theoretical and practical implications of our work.

Is knowledge emotion? The subjective emotional responses to wines depend on level of self-reported expertise and sensitivity to key information about the wine

Many factors influence emotional responses evoked by wines. Here we assessed how self-reported wine expertise, tasting condition (blind vs. informed) as well as sensitivity to key information about wines (e.g., reputation, price, grape variety) impact the subjective affective responses they evoked. We measured subjective affective responses of high and low in self-reported wine expertise consumers to 8 different wines in a blind tasting and in a tasting when information about the wines was known. After their first tasting session, we asked participants the extent to which they considered specific information when they intended to purchase wine (e.g., reputation, etc.). The more wine consumers high in self-reported expertise paid attention to the wine’s reputation, the less they used feelings when tasting wines. In contrast, the more the wine tasters low in self-reported expertise paid attention to the wine’s reputation, the more feelings they reported. Moreover, when considering positive and negative feelings separately, it appears that the more participants paid attention to the label, the lower the number of positive terms they tended to mention. Additionally, wine tasters low in self-reported expertise were more inclined to report positive feelings towards the wines in the informed condition and if they were sensitive to wine’s reputation. In contrast, wine tasters high in self-reported expertise were less inclined to report positive feelings towards the wines in the informed condition and if they were sensitive to wine’s reputation. These results hint at the importance of considering psychological theories of emotion while studying wine-elicited emotions, in particular appraisal theories of emotion.

Growth dynamics and emotions in limited growth and a non-structured family business group: the case of Tunisia

The family business (FB) literature highlights two main factors underlying the issue of limited growth: cognitive and emotional. This study aims to understand better the influence of the emotional dimension on the growth dynamics of FBs over time. Based on the founder centrality, this research uses the growth state approach and the component process model from the appraisal theory of emotion, to understand how discrete emotions impact FB's growth decision-making. A qualitative study of six Tunisian founders of 24 non-structured family business (NSFB) groups who deliberately decided to limit growth was conducted. Findings show that the growth dynamic is based on two transition sequences each lasting more than two decades: from the creation to a high growth state, then from a high growth state to a plateaued growth state. Fear, anger and sadness recognition in transitioning to the plateaued growth state indicate the situations that are causing blockages in the founder's ability to achieve his goals, low coping potential and doubts about the future expectations of the NSFB group.

Empathy or schadenfreude? Exploring observers’ differential responses to abusive supervision

Witnessing abusive supervision is pervasive in the workplace. Intuitively, observers should respond with empathy. Drawing on appraisal theory of emotion, however, we propose that observers’ emotional and behavioral responses to witnessing abusive supervision depend on the perceived goal competitiveness between observers and victims. Specifically, when perceived goal competitiveness is high or made salient, observed abusive supervision is positively associated with observers’ schadenfreude, which in turn decreases their helping behaviors toward victims. In contrast, when perceived goal competitiveness is low, observed abusive supervision is positively associated with observers’ empathic emotion, which in turn increases their helping behaviors toward victims. Data from one experiment and one multi-wave field study provide support for these hypotheses. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings and directions for future research.

Local People’s Appraisal of the Fishery-Seal Situation in Traditional Fishing Villages on the Baltic Sea Coast in Southeast Sweden

The gray seal (Halichoerus grypus) population in the Baltic Sea is flourishing. On the one hand, this can be interpreted as successful conservation management but, on the other, the gray seal has also become a persistent problem for small-scale coastal fisheries. Departing from the appraisal theory of emotion, this case study investigated local people’s appraisals of the current situation of small-scale fishery and seals in three fishing villages. Survey results and interviews showed that the fishery-seal situation is perceived as being highly relevant, with negative implications, and local communities and fishers lack the tools to tackle the challenges. Successful management requires not only attention to local context and stakeholder groups, but also to people’s individual interpretation or appraisal of the situation. Place-specific coping strategies should be sought, to balance the seal population with the promotion of small-scale fisheries as a sustainable local industry and as a cultural heritage.

Being moved by protest: Collective efficacy beliefs and injustice appraisals enhance collective action intentions for forest protection via positive and negative emotions

Based on collective action theories and appraisal theories of emotion, we propose that people are moved and positively overwhelmed by the idea that together they can make a difference for a more sustainable future and that these feelings motivate them to participate in pro-environmental collective action. We surveyed activists and sympathizers of a forest protection campaign (Study 1, N = 210) and conducted an experiment (Study 2, N = 221) to test this claim. As expected, feelings of being moved mediated the effect of collective efficacy beliefs on collective action intentions in both studies. Hence, being moved constitutes a second emotional path to collective action alongside group-based anger. These two emotional paths differently elicited the goal to punish authorities (intergroup goal), to be part of the movement (intragroup goal), and to reduce climate change (ideological goal). The findings suggest that negative and positive emotions (anger and being moved) amplify already existing motivations.

Rising above: Investigating employee exemplification as a response to the experience of shame induced by abusive supervision

Scholars have clearly demonstrated that abusive supervision can precipitate a variety of destructive reactions from employees. Employees, however, do not universally reciprocate mistreatment with their own destructive behaviour and yet our current understanding of how victims of abusive supervision might choose to react less destructively, or potentially constructively, is still limited. Further, we lack a sufficient understanding of the psychological mechanisms that help explain why employees may react less destructively to abusive supervision. Drawing from appraisal theories of emotions, this research investigates whether the emotion of shame helps to explain why employees might engage in exemplification as a relatively constructive coping strategy in response to abusive supervision. An experimental (Study 1) and a field study (Study 2) found that shame mediated the effect of abusive supervision on employee exemplification. We further examined locus of control as a moderator of the indirect relationship between abusive supervision and exemplification and found individuals with internal (compared to external) locus of control were more likely to experience shame from abusive supervision and cope with shame by engaging in exemplification. In turn, the positive relationship between abusive supervision and exemplification, via shame, was strengthened for individuals with internal locus of control.Practitioner points Practicing managers should help guide employees to make more informed judgements about how to react to abuse in ways that are most suitable for their well‐being and career. Common reactions such as leaving the organization or retaliating against the abusive supervisor may not be a good personal and professional choice for employees. As such, employees should know that there are other viable avenues, such as engaging in exemplification, that can help cope with shame induced by abusive supervision. Organizations should identify formal procedures and practices that reward and celebrate employees that go above and beyond. If employees perceive that their exemplification has gone unnoticed, they may feel that their self‐concept is not being restored at their desired rate, consequently driving employees to cope with the feeling of shame through withdrawal (e.g., turnover).

The Affective Processes Underlying Event-Based Psychological Contract Breach and Fulfillment

Psychological contract research has focused on entity-based psychological contract fulfillment (i.e., a generalized evaluation reflecting the degree to which the organization has typically upheld its perceived obligations). Integrating attribution and appraisal theories of emotions, we argue that examining psychological contracts from an event-based perspective (i.e., specific instances of broken or fulfilled promises) can reveal important processes that are distinct from an entity-perspective. Using a daily diary study with event sampling, we find that broken and fulfilled promises are associated with disparate attributions. In turn, breach elicited negative emotions, which prompted negative mood and counterproductive behaviors whereas fulfillment elicited positive emotions, which prompted positive mood and citizenship behaviors. Importantly, broken and fulfilled promises aggregated to influence downstream entity perceptions of psychological contract fulfillment via mood. Theoretical contributions include the importance of (a) distinguishing between event/entity psychological contracts (b) acknowledging distinctions between broken/fulfilled promises, (c) examining emotions as a pivotal mechanism underlying event-based processes, and (d) acknowledging the influence of everyday broken and fulfilled promises on entity-based psychological contract fulfillment. Practical contributions include the importance of effectively managing psychological contracts on an everyday basis and ensuring that employees perceive that the organization does not breach and also fulfills its promises.

How Physical Presence Overrides Emotional (Coping) Effects in HRI: Testing the Transfer of Emotions and Emotional Coping in Interaction with a Humanoid Social Robot

The increasing pressure on healthcare systems calls for innovative solutions, such as social robots. However, healthcare situations often are highly emotional while little is known about how people’s prior emotional state may affect the perception and acceptance of such robots. Following appraisal theories of emotion, the appraisal of coping potential related to one’s emotions was found to be important in acting as mediator between emotional state and perceptions of a robot (Spekman et al. in Comput Hum Behav 85:308–318, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.03.043; in Belief in emotional coping ability affects what you see in a robot, not the emotions as such, Dissertation, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 2018), though this has not yet been tested in relation to actual emotional coping nor in an actual encounter with a robot. Hence, the current study focused on how actual emotional coping influences subsequent robot perceptions in two experiments. In Study 1 (N = 101) and Study 2 (N = 110) participants encountered a real humanoid robot after a manipulation to induce various emotions and coping potential. Manipulations in both studies were effective, yet the results in Study 1 were potentially confounded by a novelty effect of participants’ first encounter with a real robot that talked to them. Therefore, in Study 2, participants interacted briefly with the robot before the actual experiment. Results showed an interaction effect of prior emotions and (manipulated) coping potential on robot perceptions, but not the effects expected based on previous studies. An actual interaction with a robot thus seems to provoke different reactions to the robot, thereby overruling any emotional effects. These findings are discussed in light of the healthcare context in which these social robots might be deployed.

Animal owners\u2019 appraisal of large carnivore presence and use of interventions to prevent carnivore attacks on domestic animals in Sweden

Large carnivores elicit strong emotional reactions, which could influence consensus or social conflicts between persons promoting wildlife conservation and people who suffer from its negative consequences. Interventions to prevent carnivore attacks on domestic animals are intended to promote coexistence between people and carnivores, but could fail to mitigate fear and social conflicts if emotions and perspectives of intervention end users are not given careful consideration. We conducted focus group interviews with animal owners in Sweden and applied a framework of the appraisal theory of emotion to gain a nuanced understanding of their appraisal of intervention use. The analysis identified that appraisals occur at two different levels. The first process related to appraisals of carnivore presence and the second process related to appraisals of intervention use. The interventions can provide an opportunity to facilitate the animal owners’ coping with carnivore presence and thereby reduce their experienced anxiety of carnivore attacks. However, if animal owners are presented with interventions which they consider irrelevant, that have implications with which they cannot cope, or that are incongruent with the animal owners’ norms, then the promotion of interventions can also generate frustration and negative emotions. As such, interventions have the potential to either mitigate or undermine wildlife-related conflicts. In the wider context, taking the perspective of the individual becomes essential, and animal owners’ experiences and appraisals of intervention use must be acknowledged to allow development of social trust and empathetic dialog between stakeholders in the future.

Drivers of intervention use to protect domestic animals from large carnivore attacks

ABSTRACT Large carnivores are prioritized in conservation, but their co-occurrence with humans and domestic animals can generate conflict. Interventions preventing carnivore attacks are central to carnivore conservation, but are only effective if implemented. This study investigates drivers of the intention to use interventions among animal owners in Sweden based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, extended with the emotion construct Worry. Additionally, the study includes an explorative analysis investigating the processes behind this worry based on the Appraisal Theory of Emotion. In a survey comprising 1,163 animal owners, the subjective norm is identified as an important driver in the regression model of intended intervention use. Adding Worry to the model increased the amount of explained variance. Worry, in turn was mainly explained by experienced vulnerability among animal owners. This study illustrates how emotion theory can extend TPB to enhance understanding of human behavior, important for future coexistence between humans and wildlife.

Performance feedback interviews as affective events: An exploration of the impact of emotion regulation of negative performance feedback on supervisor–employee dyads

Emotion has been treated as merely an underlying and implicit phenomenon in organizational performance feedback scholarship and has yet to be examined in its own right. This paper conceptualizes negative performance feedback interviews as affective events that elicit negative emotions in both employees (as feedback receivers) and supervisors (as feedback givers). We argue that both employees and supervisors cope with these emotions, utilizing emotion regulation strategies, which differently impact employees' engagement in learning behaviour through psychological safety, and supervisors' satisfaction with giving negative performance feedback. Drawing on affective events theory (AET), appraisal theory of emotion, emotion regulation and performance feedback literature, we offer theoretical insights that may encourage empirical studies to explore the role emotion regulation plays in performance feedback interviews. Theoretical and human resource management implications are discussed.

Emotion and the Psychological Distance of Climate Change

Anchored by construal level theory and appraisal theories of emotion, this study examines whether discrete emotions vary along with perceived psychological distance of climate change impacts. We found that reduced psychological distance perception led to an increase in concrete emotions such as anger, fear, sadness, and guilt. In contrast, increased psychological distance perception led to an increase in hope—an abstract emotion. Compared to anger, anxiety, and hope, fear, guilt, and shame had more limited impact on climate mitigation action and policy support. Trait empathy moderated the effect of psychological distance manipulation on distance perception and emotions.

기후변화 보도 유형이 행동의도에 영향을 미치는 경로 연구 : 감정의 인지적 평가 이론 중심 분석

본 연구는 기후변화 보도 유형(내러티브 vs 수치)과 수치적 프레임(일일 프레임 vs 연간 프레임)에 따라 인지적 평가 차원과 부정적 감정이 다르게 나타나는지 살펴보았다. 또한 보도 유형이 예방행동의도에 영향을 미치는 과정에서, 인지적 평가 차원과 부정적 감정이 매개효과를 보이는지 알아보았다. 실험참여자(N=365)를 네 집단으로 나눈 후 각각 내러티브 유형*일일 프레임, 내러티브 유형*연간 프레임, 수치적 유형*일일 프레임, 수치적 유형*연간 프레임 보도를 보게 한 후 설문에 응답하게 했다. 분석 결과, 보도 유형에 따라 부정적 감정의 차이가 유의미하지 않았지만, 인지적 평가 차원인 자아 관여도와 심리적 거리감의 차이가 유의미했다. 내러티브 유형과 일일 프레임 집단에서 자아 관여도와 심리적 거리감이 높았다. 한편, 예방행동의도에 영향을 미치는 과정에서 인지적 평가 차원과 부정적 감정은 정적인 매개효과를 보였다. 구체적으로 내러티브 유형은 인지적 평가 차원에 정적인 영향을 미쳤으며, 이 과정을 통해 발생한 부정적 감정은 예방행동의도에 긍정적인 영향을 미쳤다. 일일 프레임은 인지적 평가차원에 정적인 영향을 미쳤으며, 이를 통해 발생한 부정적 감정은 예방행동의도에 긍정적인 영향을 미쳤다. 본 연구는 기후변화 위험과 관련한 효과적인 보도 유형과 수치적 프레임의 효과를 실증적으로 검증했으며, 또한 이를 통해 두 메시지 변수의 상호작용과 영향변수들의 매개효과 관계를 입증했다는 점에서 주목할 만하다. 이와 더불어 감정은 인지적 평가 차원을 통해 발생한다는 것을 검증했다는 점에서 의미를 지닌다.

The Pope May Not Be Enough: How Emotions, Populist Beliefs, and Perceptions of an Elite Messenger Interact to Influence Responses to Climate Change Messaging

As a rise in anti-elite populist sentiment becomes an increasingly notable object of study in political realms, it is important to also consider how populism operates outside the electoral sphere. Americans’ support for climate change-related policy has been understood primarily in a political affiliation context, with Democrats likely to support such policy and Republicans likely not to. However, populist beliefs cross ideological divides. Study of the interaction of populist sentiment, perceived elitism of a climate messenger, and support for climate change-related policy sheds additional insights onto research about climate change communication and strategic message design. Furthermore, populist sentiment is tied strongly to two emotions empirically linked to climate change attitudes: anger and fear. Grounded in principles from the Elaboration Likelihood Model and the Appraisal Theory of Emotions, we conducted an online survey-experiment (N = 406) testing audience responses to climate change messages from Pope Francis and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, two messengers that have the potential to be perceived as elite. The data revealed an important interplay between populist sentiment, perceived elitism of a climate change messenger, and emotional responses to the message in shaping post-message support for climate change-related policy.

Using Face-Based Emotion Recognition Software to Examine the Effects of Negative Feedback

We investigate the effects of performance feedback on a subsequent performance task, and the mediating role of sadness. Drawing on the appraisal theory of emotion, we expect that negative performan...

Turning a Blind Eye to Team Members’ Unethical Behavior: The Role of Incentive Structures

Organizations increasingly rely on group-based incentive structures to increase productivity and promote collaboration. Drawing on deonance theory and appraisal theories of emotion, we build and te...

Implicit Beliefs about Teaching Ability, Teacher Emotions, and Teaching Satisfaction

Although there are studies that link both implicit beliefs and emotions with well-being, most of these studies have been conducted in a domain-general context. The aim of this study was to contextualize these findings in the teaching context by examining the role of implicit beliefs about teaching ability in teacher emotions and satisfaction. This study draws on two theories of emotions: appraisal theories of emotion and broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions in order to understand the roles of cognition (i.e., implicit beliefs about teaching ability: incremental and entity beliefs) and emotions (i.e., teacher emotions: enjoyment, anger, and anxiety) in teaching satisfaction. Using data from a sample of 413 Filipino pre-service teachers, results of structural equation modeling provided support for a model of incremental beliefs about teaching ability predicting teaching satisfaction through teacher emotion of enjoyment. The findings of the study underscore the important role of implicit beliefs about the malleability of teaching ability and positive emotions toward the teaching experience in pre-service teachers’ teaching satisfaction.

The role of culture in appraisals, emotions and helplessness in response to threats.

In honour cultures, such as Turkey, reputation management is emphasised, whereas in dignity cultures such as northern US, self-respect and personal achievements are central. Turkey is also a collectivistic culture, where relationship harmony is as important as reputation management. When Turkish people's reputation is threatened, they may experience an internal conflict between these two motives and display helplessness. The purpose of the present study was to examine how people from Turkey (an honour culture; n = 52) and northern US (a dignity culture; n = 48) would perceive and respond to reputation threats as opposed to self-respect threats. As predicted, Turkish participants anticipated stronger anger, shame, and helplessness in response to reputation threats than self-respect threats, whereas differences were smaller or non-existent in northern US. Moreover, shame was a mediator between appraisal and helplessness for reputation threats in Turkey (shame positively predicted helplessness); anger was a mediator between appraisal and helplessness for self-respect threats in northern US (anger negatively predicted helplessness). These results are novel in their inclusion of helplessness and appraisal theory of emotions when examining responses to threats in honour and dignity cultures.