Appraisal and emotions in heritage context: understanding emotional experiences of residents and non-residents at the Cathedral of Valencia

Project Description

Predicting emotions is valuable in research as it helps understanding and anticipating human
behavior, decision-making processes, and social interactions (Ochsner and Gross, 2005). A theory
which has been frequently cited in existing research to predict emotional experiences is cognitive
appraisal theory by Scherer (2009). The theory is well-known for predicting emotional experiences through appraisals in fields like psychology and consumer behavior. Nevertheless, most previous studies incorporating appraisal theory have focused on sudden, intense, and short-lived situations. Much less has appraisal theory been operationalized in milder more gradual contexts such as heritage sites. Despite the acknowledged importance of emotions in shaping experiences at heritage sites, research on emotional dynamics at heritage sites remains limited as previous studies have often focussed on historical aspects, overlooking the emotional and affective dimensions of visitor experiences (Smith and Campbell, 2015; Tolia-Kelly et al., 2016). This study aimed to explore how effectively cognitive appraisal theory predicts emotional experiences within the nuanced and gradual setting of a heritage experience. The Cathedral of Valencia in Spain, was taken as a case study. A survey method to collect quantitative data on visitors’ appraisals and emotional experiences was employed and completed by 266 people directly after they had visited the Cathedral of Valencia. The study found that appraisal theory applied in the context of the Cathedral predicted 15% of the variance in emotional experiences. This was significantly less than in earlier research carried out in faster-paced contexts (Scherer and Meuleman, 2013). Factors such as personal control, meeting expectations, and satisfaction levels during the experience contributed to more positive emotions and were key appraisal criteria. Additionally, appraisal theory was more accurate in predicting emotions for residents compared to non-residents. Appraisal theory appears to prioritize the dynamic and transient aspects of emotions, often excluding complexities and concepts like mood from its considerations. Further research into the interplay among emotions, appraisals, and mood is encouraged.

Author: Z. Winkels (2024)

Image reference:

(getyourguide, n.d.)