What aspect is emphasized in the transactional model of stress?

The transactional model of stress, developed by Richard Lazarus and Susan Folkman, emphasizes the role of cognitive appraisal in understanding how individuals encounter and cope with stress. This model illustrates that stress is not solely determined by the external situation but rather by how individuals perceive and evaluate those situations.

Cognitive appraisal involves two key processes: primary appraisal and secondary appraisal. During primary appraisal, a person assesses whether a situation is a threat, a challenge, or benign. This initial evaluation helps to determine the perceived level of threat. Upon identifying a situation as stressful, the individual then engages in secondary appraisal, where they evaluate their resources and options for coping with the stressor. This is crucial because it suggests that the same stressor might be experienced differently by different individuals based on their appraisal, leading to various coping strategies and responses.

The emphasis on cognitive appraisal in the transactional model highlights the subjective experience of stress, illustrating that personal perception significantly shapes how stress is experienced and managed. This understanding is pivotal in fields such as psychology and health, where interventions may focus on altering individuals' appraisals and coping mechanisms to better manage stress.