An example of a primary appraisal of a stressor is judging how threatening or harmful a situation is to you, such as deciding that “the man with the gun is a moderate threat.”

Primary appraisal definition

Primary appraisal is the first mental evaluation of an event in which a person decides whether the situation is irrelevant, benign, or stressful, and if stressful, whether it represents a threat, harm/loss, or challenge. It focuses on the significance of the event for one’s well‑being, not yet on what to do about it.

Concrete example

In common multiple‑choice items, the primary appraisal option is the one where a person is judging the level of danger (for example, “Humphrey judges the man with the gun to be a moderate threat”). Choices where a person is deciding how to cope, weighing options, or choosing an action (such as quitting a job or planning how to deal with a bully) are considered secondary appraisal instead.