<p>Examples of appraisals which evoke the emotion of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear" rel="nofollow">Fear</a> may include dangerous and harmful situations which results people to experience fear. Appraisal of unfair treatment is one cause of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anger" rel="nofollow">Anger</a> which may lead people to behave in an uncertain or unpredictable way both physically and verbally.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-05T01:29:06.287Z
2012-05-05T13:26:23.433Z
2012-05-05T13:26:23.433Z
cpx
<p>By some theories (Carver and Scheier), positive emotions result when you are making progress towards a goal and negative emotions when you are not making progress towards a goal.</p>

<p>They differentiate between approach goals (desired end-states) and avoidance goals (undesired end-states that need to be avoided) and their research has shown that success/failure in approach and avoidance motivations/goals result in different emotions. </p>

<p>To simplify, as per their theory, anger (along with sadness) is associated with lack of progress in an approach motivation task. Fear is associated with lack of progress in escaping or avoiding the threat or undesired end-state. Both Anger and Fear are, in a sense, cognitive appraisals of how far (psychologically /physically) we are from a reward/threat respectively.  </p>

<p>I write in detail about this, as well as an alternate model for what Anger and Fear code,  in my recent <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-fundamental-four/201205/emotions-and-motivations" rel="nofollow">PT blog post</a> . </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-11T19:12:43.213Z
2012-05-11T19:12:43.213Z
sandygautam
<p>I understand the actions tendencies for fear and anger. For example: We might verbally insult someone when we are angry. We might feel like running away when we are afraid.</p>

<p>According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appraisal_theory" rel="nofollow">appraisal theory</a>, each specific emotion leads us to make assessment or evaluations. So, based on this theory, I don't quite understand what would would be the appraisals for fear and anger?</p>

<cognitive-psychology><social-psychology><emotion>
What are the appraisals tendencies for fear and anger?
user135331
# What are the appraisals tendencies for fear and anger?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-05-05)

I understand the actions tendencies for fear and anger. For example: We might verbally insult someone when we are angry. We might feel like running away when we are afraid.

According to [appraisal theory](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appraisal_theory), each specific emotion leads us to make assessment or evaluations. So, based on this theory, I don't quite understand what would would be the appraisals for fear and anger?

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, social-psychology, emotion


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2012-05-05. Score: 5

Examples of appraisals which evoke the emotion of [Fear](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear) may include dangerous and harmful situations which results people to experience fear. Appraisal of unfair treatment is one cause of [Anger](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anger) which may lead people to behave in an uncertain or unpredictable way both physically and verbally.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2012-05-11. Score: 2

By some theories (Carver and Scheier), positive emotions result when you are making progress towards a goal and negative emotions when you are not making progress towards a goal.

They differentiate between approach goals (desired end-states) and avoidance goals (undesired end-states that need to be avoided) and their research has shown that success/failure in approach and avoidance motivations/goals result in different emotions.

To simplify, as per their theory, anger (along with sadness) is associated with lack of progress in an approach motivation task. Fear is associated with lack of progress in escaping or avoiding the threat or undesired end-state. Both Anger and Fear are, in a sense, cognitive appraisals of how far (psychologically /physically) we are from a reward/threat respectively.

I write in detail about this, as well as an alternate model for what Anger and Fear code, in my recent [PT blog post](http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-fundamental-four/201205/emotions-and-motivations) .


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