Consider two individuals, Robin and Madhuri, who both discover a breast lump, which they both primarily appraise as a threat. Their secondary appraisals, however, differ significantly. Robin's thoughts spiral into catastrophic outcomes ('I could have cancer... I can't deal with it!'), reflecting a belief that little can be done. In contrast, Madhuri acknowledges the seriousness but focuses on actionable steps and available medical options ('I need to have it checked out... I'll have a lot of different options'). This difference in secondary appraisal means Robin experiences far greater stress than Madhuri, despite facing the same potential stressor.

Google

Following a primary appraisal where a stressor is judged to be a threat, a secondary appraisal is performed. This involves evaluating available coping options and their perceived effectiveness. The outcome of this judgment determines the final level of perceived threat: if options are seen as effective, it results in a low threat perception, whereas ineffective or non-existent options lead to a high threat perception.

Secondary Appraisal

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Example of Secondary Appraisal

A low level of perceived threat is the result of a secondary appraisal where an individual concludes that they have effective options to manage a stressor.

Low Perceived Threat

A high level of perceived threat is the result of a secondary appraisal where an individual concludes that their options for managing a stressor are ineffective or non-existent.

High Perceived Threat

Two students, Maria and David, receive an email announcing a surprise comprehensive exam in a difficult course tomorrow. Both initially judge this event as a significant threat. However, their subsequent stress levels differ dramatically. Analyze the key cognitive difference in their thought processes, described below, that accounts for this variation in their stress responses.

Learn Before

Related