What does secondary appraisal involve?

Secondary appraisal refers to the process in which an individual evaluates their own resources and capabilities to cope with a stressor after recognizing its presence. This involves analyzing one's ability to effectively handle the situation and determining the available options for managing or addressing the stressor. In this assessment, the individual considers personal strengths, skills, and support systems that can help them deal with the challenge at hand.

Understanding secondary appraisal is essential within the context of stress and coping theory, as it determines how one responds to stressors. A positive evaluation can lead to proactive coping strategies, while a negative evaluation may result in feelings of helplessness or increased stress.

In contrast, identifying external stressors is part of primary appraisal, which focuses on recognizing the potential threat or harm posed by a situation. Planning for problem-solving strategies can be part of the coping process that follows secondary appraisal, while emotional reactions to stress are a response but do not encompass the evaluation of coping abilities.