Richard Lazarus

Early Life and Education

Richard S. Lazarus was born on March 3, 1922, in New York City. He grew up in a Jewish family and attended the City College of New York, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1942. Lazarus then went on to earn his master's degree and Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in 1947. His early academic work was influenced by the prevailing psychological theories of the time, including behaviorism and psychoanalysis.

Academic Career

Lazarus began his academic career as an instructor at Johns Hopkins University before moving to Clark University, where he became an associate professor. In 1957, he joined the faculty at the University of California, Berkeley, where he spent the majority of his career. At Berkeley, Lazarus conducted groundbreaking research in the fields of emotion and stress, which would become the focus of his life's work.

Theories and Contributions

Cognitive Appraisal Theory

One of Lazarus's most significant contributions to psychology is his cognitive appraisal theory of emotion. This theory posits that emotional responses are determined by an individual's cognitive appraisal of a situation. According to Lazarus, there are two types of appraisal: primary appraisal, which involves evaluating the significance of a situation for one's well-being, and secondary appraisal, which involves evaluating one's ability to cope with the situation. This theory challenged the then-dominant James-Lange theory and Cannon-Bard theory of emotion, which emphasized physiological responses over cognitive processes.

Stress and Coping

Lazarus is perhaps best known for his work on stress and coping. He defined stress as a particular relationship between the person and the environment that is appraised by the person as taxing or exceeding their resources and endangering their well-being. Lazarus identified two main types of coping strategies: problem-focused coping, which involves addressing the problem causing the stress, and emotion-focused coping, which involves managing the emotional response to the problem. His research in this area led to the development of the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, which has been widely used in both clinical and research settings.

Portrait of Richard Lazarus in his office, surrounded by books and papers.

Major Works

Lazarus authored numerous books and articles throughout his career. Some of his most influential works include:

"Psychological Stress and the Coping Process" (1966) – This book laid the foundation for much of Lazarus's later work on stress and coping.
"Emotion and Adaptation" (1991) – In this book, Lazarus expanded on his cognitive appraisal theory and explored the role of emotion in human adaptation.
"Stress, Appraisal, and Coping" (1984) – Co-authored with Susan Folkman, this book presented the transactional model of stress and coping and provided a comprehensive overview of their research on the topic.

Legacy and Impact

Lazarus's work has had a profound impact on the field of psychology. His theories of cognitive appraisal and stress and coping have influenced a wide range of research areas, including health psychology, clinical psychology, and organizational psychology. Lazarus's emphasis on the importance of cognitive processes in emotional responses has also contributed to the development of cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Personal Life

Lazarus was married to Bernice Lazarus, with whom he had two children. He was known for his dedication to his family and his passion for teaching and mentoring students. Lazarus continued to be active in his field until his death on November 24, 2002.

References

Lazarus, R. S. (1966). *Psychological Stress and the Coping Process*. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). *Stress, Appraisal, and Coping*. New York: Springer.
Lazarus, R. S. (1991). *Emotion and Adaptation*. New York: Oxford University Press.