Final answer:
The cognitive component of emotion pertains to 'feelings' and involves cognitive appraisal, where one interprets and assigns meaning to the situation, determining their emotional response.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cognitive component of emotion gives emotion its cognitive or mental aspect. This includes the process known as cognitive appraisal, where an individual interprets and assigns meaning to the situation they are experiencing. Cognitive appraisal plays a crucial role in shaping the emotional experience because it helps to determine the emotional response to a particular stimulus. This mental aspect of emotion allows us to examine the consequences of events and to assess the impact on our well-being. Therefore, the answer to the question is (a) feelings, which involve our personal interpretation and understanding of the emotion being experienced.