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Cited by 3,053Attachment and Relationship DynamicsEmotions and Moral BehaviorResilience and Mental Health

Transactional theory and research on emotions and coping

Lazarus, Richard S., Folkman, Susan·1987·European Journal of Personality
DOI 10.1002/per.2410010304
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Abstract

In this article we examine the fundamental premises of our cognitive‐relational theory of emotion and coping and assess our progress in examining them through 10 years of programmatic empirical research. Our discussion involves the metatheoretical topics of transaction and relationship, process, and emotion as a system. The person‐environment relationship is mediated by two key processess: cognitive appraisal and coping. We evaluate the findings of our research on these processes, their dynamic interplay, their antecedents, and their short‐term and long‐term outcomes. In the final section we highlight major substantive and methodological issues that need to be addressed. These include issues surrounding the theory and measurement of appraisal, functional and dysfunctional coping, causal inference, microanalytic vs macroanalytic research strategies, objective vs subjective approaches and confounding, and the problem of method variance.

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Crossref · 10.1002/per.2410010304

Cites

89 of 97 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The transactional model of stress and coping indicates that adaptation to stressors varies with how one thinks about the stressor and actions/behaviors to manage demands.

    “The transactional model of stress and coping (Lazarus and Folkman, 1987; Folkman and Moskowitz, 2004) indicates that the way any person adapts to this kind of stressor varies according to how they think about the stressor and the actions and behaviors they initiate to manage the demands of the situation; that is, the pain and challenges of living with endometriosis (Folkman and Moskowitz, 2004).”

    From Self-management strategies to consider to combat endometriosis symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) · cites this paper as Lazarus and Folkman, 1987

  • The Transactional Model of Stress and Coping provides a framework for understanding individual differences in responses to coping responses to stress.

    “Additionally, the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (Lazarus & Folkman, 1987) provides a framework for understanding individual differences in responses to coping responses to stress.”

    From Content Moderator Mental Health and Associations with Coping Styles: Replication and Extension of Previous Studies (2025) · cites this paper as Lazarus & Folkman, 1987

Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 16

  1. DeLongis A., Folkman S., Lazarus R. S. (in press). ‘Hassles, health, and mood: A prospective study with repeated daily assessments’,Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
  2. Frese M., 1985, Goal‐directed Behavior: The Concept of Action in Psychology, xvii
  3. 10.1037/0003-066x.41.6.714 · DOI
  4. Janis I., 1977, Decision Making
  5. Kasl S. V., 1983, Stress Research, 79
  6. 10.1037/0022-3514.44.3.638 · DOI
  7. Laux L., 1976, Stress and Anxiety, 3, 171
  8. Lazarus R. S., 1983, The Denial of Stress, 1
  9. Lazarus R. S., 1974, Coping and Adaptation, 249
  10. 10.1037/0003-066x.41.6.715 · DOI
  11. 10.1037/0003-066x.32.12.1046 · DOI
  12. Moos R. H., 1982, Handbook of Stress: Theoretical and Clinical Aspects
  13. Scherer K. R., 1984, Approaches to Emotion, 293
  14. Tennen H., 1985, Test Critiques, 3, 686
  15. Thomae H., 1985, Zeitschrift für Differentielle und Diagnostische Psychologie, 6, 129
  16. Wrubel J., 1981, Social Competence, 61

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Authors
Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S.
Affiliations
University of California, Berkeley (US)
Corresponding author
Lazarus, Richard S.
Venue
European Journal of Personality
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
1987-09
Volume
1
Issue
3
Pages
141-169
ISSN
  • 0890-2070 (ISSN-L)
  • 1099-0984
DOI
10.1002/per.2410010304
OpenAlex
W2106232823
Semantic Scholar
61c4bdaca0b53fc1a9736b946f6a3f5ddd1759b2
Cited by
3,053
References
91
Citations by year
2026: 264 · 2025: 276 · 2024: 215 · 2023: 246 · 2022: 236 · 2021: 273 · 2020: 247 · 2019: 163 · 2018: 137 · 2017: 116 · 2016: 104 · 2015: 81 · 2014: 95 · 2013: 73 · 2012: 68
FWCI
15.44
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
European Journal of Personality (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Emotions and Moral Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Resilience and Mental Health
Keywords
transactional theory, emotions, coping, cognitive appraisal, person-environment relationship, causal inference, confounding, method variance, emotion measurement

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