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Lazarus' Cognitive-Mediational Theory

Written by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโ€ขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated September 2025

Definition

Lazarus' Cognitive-Mediational Theory suggests that our emotions are determined by our cognitive appraisal of events rather than solely by the events themselves. According to this theory, how we interpret and evaluate situations influences our emotional responses.

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