The process of assigning a meaning or interpretation to a physiological arousal is central to understanding emotional experience. This appraisal, which involves evaluating the context and available cues, shapes the subjective feeling associated with the physical sensation. For instance, an elevated heart rate during a job interview might be interpreted as anxiety, whereas a similar physiological response during exercise would likely be perceived as excitement or exertion.
This interpretive function is significant because it highlights the role of cognition in shaping emotions. It moves beyond simply reacting to stimuli by suggesting that individuals actively construct their emotional realities. The development of this perspective offered a challenge to theories that emphasized the primacy of physiological responses in determining emotions. Historical context reveals how this cognitive emphasis built upon earlier work in attribution theory and schema theory, influencing subsequent research in fields like psychotherapy and social psychology. This theoretical framework demonstrates the mind’s active participation in constructing emotional experiences and how it relates to emotion.
