On the sequential nature of appraisal processes: Indirect evidence from a recognition task

There is a growing consensus that the elicitation and differentiation of em otions can best be understood as the result of the subjective appraisal of the significance of events for individuals. The present paper addresses the process of appraisal, hitherto neglected; particularly the postulate that appraisal consists of a fixed sequence of stimulus evaluation checks, as pr oposed by the component process model of emotion (Scherer, 1984, 1993b). It is suggested that indirect evidence pertinent to the order assumption, whi ch is an essential aspect of the sequence hypothesis, can be obtained via t he study of recognition-of-emotion-situation scenarios that have been segme nted according to individual appraisal criteria or dimensions. The hypothes is that the presentation of these segments in the predicted sequence (as co mpared to a random sequence) will result in a faster and more accurate iden tification of the respective emotions is supported by data from three exper iments. Potential alternative explanations are discussed.