PSYCHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF COGNITIVE ASSESSMENT

Abstract

According to the cognitive theory of stress and adaptation, the process of coping begins with a person’s conscious assessment of his relationship with the environment. R. Lazarus describes three types of cognitive assessments that affect the process of emotional exhaustion. The initial assessment is determined by the degree of perceived danger, the characteristics of the stressor, and the psychological characteristics of the individual. This allows us to draw conclusions about the nature of the situation (threat or change in the situation). Three types of events subject to initial assessment can be distinguished [1, p. 78]:

1. events that do not affect the individual and, accordingly, do not require any reaction;
2. events that can be assessed as a threat or challenge requiring a response;
3. events that can be assessed as favorable, representing an opportunity.

The next stage is the assessment of the resources that a person can access to cope with the emerging factors of emotional exhaustion. This may include an assessment of physical, emotional, and cognitive adaptation, existing knowledge and skills, and the availability of external support. This assessment determines how a person is ready and able to cope with stressors.

The third stage is the selection of a coping strategy based on cognitive appraisal and available resources. A person may choose a passive strategy, such as avoiding or denying the stressor, or an active strategy, such as accepting, planning, or seeking support.