Maria has never liked flying; she thinks it is dangerous. Juan loves it; he thinks it is a very convenient and safe way to travel. They decide to go to Paris together for a vacation, but their plans are marred by a work stoppage of air traffic controllers. Maria wants to call off the entire vacation, but Juan is still willing to fly. Which of the following statements about emotions best fits this example?
A) Males and females have different reactions to stress.
B) Males are more adventurous than females.
C) Different reactions to stressful situations are often based on different cognitive appraisals of the situation.
D) Past experiences and feelings have nothing to do with current emotions.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Maria and Juan have different emotional reactions to the work stoppage because they have different cognitive appraisals of the situation. Maria sees it as a danger to their safety, while Juan sees it as an inconvenience that can be overcome. This shows how emotions are influenced by our interpretations of events, rather than purely by external factors such as gender or past experiences.

Maria Has Never Liked Flying; She Thinks It Is Dangerous