Final answer:
The cognitive-appraisal theory emphasizes the role of individual's personal assessment in determining emotional responses. It suggests that cognitive processes shape our emotions by appraising a given stimulus before the emotion is experienced.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theory of emotion that supports the importance of an individual's personal assessment of a situation is cognitive-appraisal theory. According to the cognitive-appraisal theory, our emotions are determined by our evaluation or appraisal of the stimulus.
This appraisal is a cognitive process that precedes and informs the emotional response. Our emotional experiences can vary greatly depending on how we perceive and interpret a given situation, as our cognitive appraisal mediates between the stimulus and the resulting emotional response.