ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on using stories that convey specific appraisals; it may be the case that these levels differ in their effectiveness in eliciting appraisal shifts, emotions, decoding, and empathy within specific contexts, age groups, and genders. The broader applications offered by these levels are additional opportunities for future research in applied contexts. The program of research examines the relationships between appraisals and emotions, the ability to accurately decode emotion and empathize based on appraisal cues, and a positive association between emotional reactions to stories and memory. All of these findings have applications in terms of mentation, linking, and regulation. The study addressing memory for emotional stories revealed that, consistent with the literature, recall was greater for emotional than for non-emotional stories. Providing stories or encouraging the client to generate stories that highlight effective and ineffective thoughts, resultant appraisals, and emotions may contribute to the clients' comprehension and application of this information.
