# Exploratory Study into Relations between Cognitive Distortions and Emotional Appraisals

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.15979 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.15979/

## Key facts

- Cited by 3 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 13 of its 35 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 20 Mar 2025.

## Builds on (most cited first, 13 of 13)

- [Cognitive Reframing of Negative Thoughts through Human-Language Model Interaction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.02466/) (2023)
- [HealMe: Harnessing Cognitive Reframing in Large Language Models for Psychotherapy](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.05574/) (2024)
- [Dimensional Modeling of Emotions in Text with Appraisal Theories: Corpus Creation, Annotation Reliability, and Prediction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.05238/) (2022)
- [Inducing Positive Perspectives with Text Reframing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2204.02952/) (2022)
- [Training Models to Generate, Recognize, and Reframe Unhelpful Thoughts](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2307.02768/) (2023)
- [Empowering Psychotherapy with Large Language Models: Cognitive Distortion Detection through Diagnosis of Thought Prompting](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.07146/) (2023)
- [Appraisal Theories for Emotion Classification in Text](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2003.14155/) (2020)
- [Emotion Analysis in NLP: Trends, Gaps and Roadmap for Future Directions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.01222/) (2024)
- [ERD: A Framework for Improving LLM Reasoning for Cognitive Distortion Classification](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.14255/) (2024)
- [Socratic Reasoning Improves Positive Text Rewriting](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.03029/) (2024)
- [x-enVENT: A Corpus of Event Descriptions with Experiencer-specific Emotion and Appraisal Annotations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.10909/) (2022)
- [Experiencer-Specific Emotion and Appraisal Prediction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2210.12078/) (2022)
- [Positive Text Reframing under Multi-strategy Optimization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2407.17940/) (2024)

## Built on by (most cited first, 3 of 3)

- [Crisp: Cognitive Restructuring of Negative Thoughts through Multi-turn Supportive Dialogues](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.17238/) (2025)
- [A Survey of Cognitive Distortion Detection and Classification in NLP](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.09878/) (2025)
- [Exploring Profiles of Cognitive Distortions Associated with Mental Health Disorders](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.24996/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

In recent years, there has been growing interest in studying cognitive distortions and emotional appraisals from both computational and psychological perspectives. Despite considerable similarities between emotional reappraisal and cognitive reframing as emotion regulation techniques, these concepts have largely been examined in isolation. This research explores the relationship between cognitive distortions and emotional appraisal dimensions, examining their potential connections and relevance for future interdisciplinary studies. Under this pretext, we conduct an exploratory computational study, aimed at investigating the relationship between cognitive distortion and emotional appraisals. We show that the patterns of statistically significant relationships between cognitive distortions and appraisal dimensions vary across different distortion categories, giving rise to distinct appraisal profiles for individual distortion classes. Additionally, we analyze the impact of cognitive restructuring on appraisal dimensions, exemplifying the emotion regulation aspect of cognitive restructuring.