Patterns of emotion-specific appraisal, coping, and cardiovascular reactivity during an ongoing emotional episode

J Pers Soc Psychol. 2002 Aug;83(2):434-50.

Abstract

The authors examined emotion-specific patterns of appraisal, coping, and cardiovascular reactivity during real ongoing emotional episodes. In this study, 109 participants performed a neutral opinion-expression task, where a confederate elicited anger, shame, or pride using verbal and nonverbal behavior. The authors assessed cognitive appraisals, emotional reactions, coping, outcomes (state self-esteem and outcome satisfaction), and cardiovascular reactivity. Results indicated substantial and theoretically consistent differences between the 3 emotions (and differences from a nonemotion condition) for cognitive appraisals, self-reported coping, behavioral coping, self-esteem, and cardiovascular reactivity. The results are discussed in relation to their implications for emotion theory and for psychological and physical health. Overall, the results suggest that researchers can study emotion-related issues using authentic emotional reactions.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Anger
  • Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena*
  • Emotions / physiology*
  • Female
  • Hemodynamics
  • Humans
  • Judgment*
  • Male
  • Shame
  • Stress, Psychological / physiopathology
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology
  • Texas