Abstract

Using an experiment with 373 participants, this study examines the main effects of threat levels (high vs. low) on the cognitive appraisal by adopting a third-person effect measurement. The study not only shows a greater perceived impact of threat on others than themselves in both high and low threat level conditions but also reveals that the higher threat level produces a greater perceived impact on comparison groups than the lower threat level.

Key words: Third-person effect, threat appraisal model, perceived impact of threat Levels.