Are stress responses influenced by cognitive appraisal? An experimental comparison of coping strategies

An investigation of the role of cognitive appraisal in emotional responses was carried out, in which psychological and physiological reactions to a distressing film were recorded in three groups of volunteers. Subjects in the intellectualization condition were given instructions to appraise the film in a detached, analytic fashion. The sensation-focusing group were asked to focus on physical sensations and to experience them fully, and controls were given no specific instructions. Heart rate, skin conductance and respiration rate were monitored continuously, while ratings of psychological distress and physical sensations were collected periodically. No significant differences were found in the subjective or physiological reactions of the intellectualization and control groups, thus failing to replicate previous reports. Sensation focusing led to a diminution of cardiac and electrodermal reactions, but did not affect subjective experience. Limitations to the concept of cognitive appraisal are suggested, while explanations of the results are offered in terms of external vs. internal deployment of attention, and desynchrony of emotional responses.