Dr. Pambros returns Abnormal Psychology exams. Juanita, Kevin, and Morgan all receive grades of "C." Juanita is grateful to have passed. Kevin is devastated. Morgan is mildly disappointed but recognizes that there are three remaining exams that could boost his grade. How would the cognitive model explain the different responses of these students to the same event?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the cognitive model, it is not the event itself that determines a person's emotional response, but rather their thoughts and interpretations of the event. In this case, Juanita's interpretation was that passing was a positive outcome, Kevin's interpretation was that a "C" was a failure, and Morgan's interpretation was that there are still opportunities to improve their grade. The event of receiving a "C" grade is essentially neutral, and it is each individual's thoughts about it that ultimately determine their emotional response.

Dr Pambros Returns Abnormal Psychology Exams