{"id":1296,"date":"2023-03-31T17:38:32","date_gmt":"2023-03-31T17:38:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/chapter\/what-is-stress\/"},"modified":"2025-10-28T15:47:37","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T15:47:37","slug":"what-is-stress","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/chapter\/what-is-stress\/","title":{"raw":"Defining Stress: Learn It 1\u2014What Is Stress?","rendered":"Defining Stress: Learn It 1\u2014What Is Stress?"},"content":{"raw":"<section class=\"textbox learningGoals\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Understand the difference\u00a0between stimulus-based and response-based stress and the difference between good stress and bad stress<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Describe different types of stressors, the connection between stressors, job strain, and job burnout<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>\r\n<p>The term <strong>stress<\/strong> as it relates to the human condition first emerged in scientific literature in the 1930s, but it did not enter the popular vernacular until the 1970s (Lyon, 2012). We use <em data-start=\"678\" data-end=\"686\">stress<\/em> to describe many unpleasant states\u2014feeling overwhelmed, angry, exhausted, or stuck. Researchers, too, have struggled to agree on a single definition. Two classic approaches dominate: <strong data-start=\"870\" data-end=\"888\">stimulus\u2011based<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"893\" data-end=\"911\">response\u2011based<\/strong> views.<\/p>\r\n<section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\">\r\n<h3>what is stress?<\/h3>\r\n<p>According to the<strong> stimulus-based<\/strong> definition of stress, stress is a stimulus that causes certain reactions.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>In this definition, <strong>stress is a demanding or threatening event or situation<\/strong> (e.g., a high-stress job, overcrowding, and long commutes to work).<\/li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p data-start=\"1027\" data-end=\"1322\">The issue with this view is that the <em data-start=\"1219\" data-end=\"1225\">same<\/em> situation can feel very different to different people (or to the same person on different days).<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>In <strong>response-based<\/strong> definitions of stress, the focus is on the physiological responses that occur when faced with demanding or threatening situations (e.g., increased arousal). In other words, <strong>stress is a response to environmental conditions<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Hans Selye, a famous stress researcher, once defined stress as the \u201cresponse of the body to any demand, whether it is caused by, or results in, pleasant or unpleasant conditions\u201d (Selye, 1976, p. 74).\u00a0<\/li>\r\n\t<li>This view captures physiology, but it cannot explain why similar bodily changes also occur with good news (e.g., an unexpected promotion).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>\r\n<h2 data-start=\"1820\" data-end=\"1865\">Stress as a <strong data-start=\"1835\" data-end=\"1846\">Process<\/strong>: Appraisal Matters<\/h2>\r\n<p data-start=\"1866\" data-end=\"2169\">A widely used definition treats stress as a <strong data-start=\"1910\" data-end=\"1921\">process<\/strong>: we <strong data-start=\"1926\" data-end=\"1938\">perceive<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"1943\" data-end=\"1954\">respond<\/strong> to events we judge as overwhelming or threatening to well\u2011being. Our <strong data-start=\"2024\" data-end=\"2047\">cognitive appraisal<\/strong>\u2014how we interpret the event\u2014shapes what we feel and do next. Two appraisals are key.<\/p>\r\n<section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\">\r\n<h3>primary and secondary appraisals<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"2171\" data-end=\"2353\">\r\n<p data-start=\"2173\" data-end=\"2232\"><strong data-start=\"2173\" data-end=\"2195\">Primary appraisal:<\/strong> <em data-start=\"2196\" data-end=\"2230\">Is this a challenge or a threat?<\/em><\/p>\r\n<ul data-start=\"2235\" data-end=\"2353\">\r\n\t<li data-start=\"2235\" data-end=\"2284\">\r\n<p data-start=\"2237\" data-end=\"2284\"><strong data-start=\"2237\" data-end=\"2250\">Challenge<\/strong> \u2192 potential for growth or gain.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"2287\" data-end=\"2353\">\r\n<p data-start=\"2289\" data-end=\"2353\"><strong data-start=\"2289\" data-end=\"2299\">Threat<\/strong> \u2192 potential for harm, loss, or negative consequences.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"2354\" data-end=\"2652\">\r\n<p data-start=\"2356\" data-end=\"2652\"><strong data-start=\"2356\" data-end=\"2380\">Secondary appraisal:<\/strong> <em data-start=\"2381\" data-end=\"2406\">What can I do about it?<\/em>\u00a0 We judge our coping options and their likely effectiveness (closely tied to self\u2011efficacy\u2014belief in one\u2019s ability to handle the task). If we see effective options, the same event feels less catastrophic.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"563\"]<img class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/textimgs.s3.amazonaws.com\/ospsych\/m49142\/CNX_Psych_14_01_Appraisals.jpg#fixme\" alt=\"A concept map begins with a box titled \u201cStressor\u201d at the top with an arrow underneath that leads to a box labeled \u201cPrimary appraisal: challenge or threat?\u201d Below \u201cPrimary appraisal: challenge or threat?\u201d is a line leading to the word \u201cchallenge\u201d on the left side and \u201cthreat\u201d on the right side. Below the word \u201cchallenge\u201d is a box labeled \u201cPotential for gain or growth.\u201d There are no additional lines, arrows, or boxes under \u201cPotential for gain or growth.\u201d Below the word \u201cthreat,\u201d there is a box labeled \u201cMay lead to harm, loss, or negative consequences.\u201d Underneath the box, there is an arrow leading to another box labeled \u201cSecondary appraisal: potential options and how effective?\u201d The box has a line underneath that leads to the words \u201ceffective option\u201d on the left side and \u201cineffective\/no option\u201d on the right side. Below the words \u201ceffective option,\u201d there is an arrow leading to a box labeled \u201cLow threat.\u201d Below the words \u201cineffective\/no option,\u201d there is an arrow leading to a box labeled \u201cHigh threat.\u201d\" width=\"563\" height=\"657\" data-media-type=\"image\/jpeg\" \/> <strong>Figure 2<\/strong>. When encountering a stressor, a person judges its potential threat (primary appraisal) and then determines if effective options are available to manage the situation (secondary appraisal). Stress is likely to result if a stressor is perceived as extremely threatening or threatening with few or no effective coping options available.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<section class=\"textbox example\">Imagine the experience of two middle-aged women, Robin and Maria. They both found a lump on their breast. Although both women viewed the breast lump as a potential threat (primary appraisal), their secondary appraisals differed considerably. <br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nIn considering the breast lump, some of the thoughts racing through Robin\u2019s mind were, \u201cOh my God, I could have breast cancer! What if the cancer has spread to the rest of my body and I cannot recover? What if I have to go through chemotherapy? I\u2019ve heard that experience is awful! What if I have to quit my job? My husband and I won\u2019t have enough money to pay the mortgage. Oh, this is just horrible\u2026I can\u2019t deal with it!\u201d<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nOn the other hand, Maria thinks, \u201cHmm, this may not be good. Although most times these things turn out to be benign, I need to have it checked out. If it turns out to be breast cancer, there are doctors who can take care of it because the medical technology today is quite advanced. I\u2019ll have a lot of different options, and I\u2019ll be just fine.\u201d <br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nClearly, Robin and Maria have different outlooks on what might turn out to be a very serious situation: Robin seems to think that little could be done about it, whereas Maria believes that, worst-case scenario, a number of options are likely to be effective would be available. As such, Robin would clearly experience greater stress than would Maria.<\/section>\r\n<p>To be sure, some stressors are inherently more stressful than others in that they are more threatening and leave less potential for variation in cognitive appraisals (e.g., objective threats to one\u2019s health or safety). Nevertheless, the appraisal will still play a role in augmenting or diminishing our reactions to such events (Everly &amp; Lating, 2002).<\/p>\r\n<section class=\"textbox tryIt\">[ohm2_question height=\"400\"]4532[\/ohm2_question]<\/section>\r\n<section>\r\n<section class=\"textbox connectIt\">Think of a time in which you and others you know (family members, friends, and classmates) experienced an event that some viewed as threatening and others viewed as challenging. What were some of the differences in the reactions of those who experienced the event as threatening compared to those who viewed the event as challenging? Why do you think there were differences in how these individuals judged the same event?<\/section>\r\n<\/section>\r\n<section data-depth=\"1\"><\/section>\r\n<section data-depth=\"1\"><\/section>","rendered":"<section class=\"textbox learningGoals\">\n<ul>\n<li>Understand the difference\u00a0between stimulus-based and response-based stress and the difference between good stress and bad stress<\/li>\n<li>Describe different types of stressors, the connection between stressors, job strain, and job burnout<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<p>The term <strong>stress<\/strong> as it relates to the human condition first emerged in scientific literature in the 1930s, but it did not enter the popular vernacular until the 1970s (Lyon, 2012). We use <em data-start=\"678\" data-end=\"686\">stress<\/em> to describe many unpleasant states\u2014feeling overwhelmed, angry, exhausted, or stuck. Researchers, too, have struggled to agree on a single definition. Two classic approaches dominate: <strong data-start=\"870\" data-end=\"888\">stimulus\u2011based<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"893\" data-end=\"911\">response\u2011based<\/strong> views.<\/p>\n<section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\">\n<h3>what is stress?<\/h3>\n<p>According to the<strong> stimulus-based<\/strong> definition of stress, stress is a stimulus that causes certain reactions.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In this definition, <strong>stress is a demanding or threatening event or situation<\/strong> (e.g., a high-stress job, overcrowding, and long commutes to work).<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-start=\"1027\" data-end=\"1322\">The issue with this view is that the <em data-start=\"1219\" data-end=\"1225\">same<\/em> situation can feel very different to different people (or to the same person on different days).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In <strong>response-based<\/strong> definitions of stress, the focus is on the physiological responses that occur when faced with demanding or threatening situations (e.g., increased arousal). In other words, <strong>stress is a response to environmental conditions<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Hans Selye, a famous stress researcher, once defined stress as the \u201cresponse of the body to any demand, whether it is caused by, or results in, pleasant or unpleasant conditions\u201d (Selye, 1976, p. 74).\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>This view captures physiology, but it cannot explain why similar bodily changes also occur with good news (e.g., an unexpected promotion).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<h2 data-start=\"1820\" data-end=\"1865\">Stress as a <strong data-start=\"1835\" data-end=\"1846\">Process<\/strong>: Appraisal Matters<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1866\" data-end=\"2169\">A widely used definition treats stress as a <strong data-start=\"1910\" data-end=\"1921\">process<\/strong>: we <strong data-start=\"1926\" data-end=\"1938\">perceive<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"1943\" data-end=\"1954\">respond<\/strong> to events we judge as overwhelming or threatening to well\u2011being. Our <strong data-start=\"2024\" data-end=\"2047\">cognitive appraisal<\/strong>\u2014how we interpret the event\u2014shapes what we feel and do next. Two appraisals are key.<\/p>\n<section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\">\n<h3>primary and secondary appraisals<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li data-start=\"2171\" data-end=\"2353\">\n<p data-start=\"2173\" data-end=\"2232\"><strong data-start=\"2173\" data-end=\"2195\">Primary appraisal:<\/strong> <em data-start=\"2196\" data-end=\"2230\">Is this a challenge or a threat?<\/em><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2235\" data-end=\"2353\">\n<li data-start=\"2235\" data-end=\"2284\">\n<p data-start=\"2237\" data-end=\"2284\"><strong data-start=\"2237\" data-end=\"2250\">Challenge<\/strong> \u2192 potential for growth or gain.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2287\" data-end=\"2353\">\n<p data-start=\"2289\" data-end=\"2353\"><strong data-start=\"2289\" data-end=\"2299\">Threat<\/strong> \u2192 potential for harm, loss, or negative consequences.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2354\" data-end=\"2652\">\n<p data-start=\"2356\" data-end=\"2652\"><strong data-start=\"2356\" data-end=\"2380\">Secondary appraisal:<\/strong> <em data-start=\"2381\" data-end=\"2406\">What can I do about it?<\/em>\u00a0 We judge our coping options and their likely effectiveness (closely tied to self\u2011efficacy\u2014belief in one\u2019s ability to handle the task). If we see effective options, the same event feels less catastrophic.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<figure style=\"width: 563px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/textimgs.s3.amazonaws.com\/ospsych\/m49142\/CNX_Psych_14_01_Appraisals.jpg#fixme\" alt=\"A concept map begins with a box titled \u201cStressor\u201d at the top with an arrow underneath that leads to a box labeled \u201cPrimary appraisal: challenge or threat?\u201d Below \u201cPrimary appraisal: challenge or threat?\u201d is a line leading to the word \u201cchallenge\u201d on the left side and \u201cthreat\u201d on the right side. Below the word \u201cchallenge\u201d is a box labeled \u201cPotential for gain or growth.\u201d There are no additional lines, arrows, or boxes under \u201cPotential for gain or growth.\u201d Below the word \u201cthreat,\u201d there is a box labeled \u201cMay lead to harm, loss, or negative consequences.\u201d Underneath the box, there is an arrow leading to another box labeled \u201cSecondary appraisal: potential options and how effective?\u201d The box has a line underneath that leads to the words \u201ceffective option\u201d on the left side and \u201cineffective\/no option\u201d on the right side. Below the words \u201ceffective option,\u201d there is an arrow leading to a box labeled \u201cLow threat.\u201d Below the words \u201cineffective\/no option,\u201d there is an arrow leading to a box labeled \u201cHigh threat.\u201d\" width=\"563\" height=\"657\" data-media-type=\"image\/jpeg\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Figure 2<\/strong>. When encountering a stressor, a person judges its potential threat (primary appraisal) and then determines if effective options are available to manage the situation (secondary appraisal). Stress is likely to result if a stressor is perceived as extremely threatening or threatening with few or no effective coping options available.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<section class=\"textbox example\">Imagine the experience of two middle-aged women, Robin and Maria. They both found a lump on their breast. Although both women viewed the breast lump as a potential threat (primary appraisal), their secondary appraisals differed considerably. <\/p>\n<p>In considering the breast lump, some of the thoughts racing through Robin\u2019s mind were, \u201cOh my God, I could have breast cancer! What if the cancer has spread to the rest of my body and I cannot recover? What if I have to go through chemotherapy? I\u2019ve heard that experience is awful! What if I have to quit my job? My husband and I won\u2019t have enough money to pay the mortgage. Oh, this is just horrible\u2026I can\u2019t deal with it!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, Maria thinks, \u201cHmm, this may not be good. Although most times these things turn out to be benign, I need to have it checked out. If it turns out to be breast cancer, there are doctors who can take care of it because the medical technology today is quite advanced. I\u2019ll have a lot of different options, and I\u2019ll be just fine.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Clearly, Robin and Maria have different outlooks on what might turn out to be a very serious situation: Robin seems to think that little could be done about it, whereas Maria believes that, worst-case scenario, a number of options are likely to be effective would be available. As such, Robin would clearly experience greater stress than would Maria.<\/section>\n<p>To be sure, some stressors are inherently more stressful than others in that they are more threatening and leave less potential for variation in cognitive appraisals (e.g., objective threats to one\u2019s health or safety). Nevertheless, the appraisal will still play a role in augmenting or diminishing our reactions to such events (Everly &amp; Lating, 2002).<\/p>\n<section class=\"textbox tryIt\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"ohm4532\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/ohm.one.lumenlearning.com\/multiembedq.php?id=4532&theme=lumen&iframe_resize_id=ohm4532&source=tnh&show_question_numbers\" width=\"100%\" height=\"400\"><\/iframe><\/section>\n<section>\n<section class=\"textbox connectIt\">Think of a time in which you and others you know (family members, friends, and classmates) experienced an event that some viewed as threatening and others viewed as challenging. What were some of the differences in the reactions of those who experienced the event as threatening compared to those who viewed the event as challenging? Why do you think there were differences in how these individuals judged the same event?<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<section data-depth=\"1\"><\/section>\n<section data-depth=\"1\"><\/section>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"menu_order":4,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"What is Stress?\",\"author\":\"OpenStax College\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/psychology-2e\/pages\/14-1-what-is-stress\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"Download for free at https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/psychology-2e\/pages\/1-introduction\"}]","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"part":1292,"module-header":"learn_it","content_attributions":[{"type":"cc","description":"What is Stress?","author":"OpenStax College","organization":"","url":"https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/psychology-2e\/pages\/14-1-what-is-stress","project":"","license":"cc-by","license_terms":"Download for free at https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/psychology-2e\/pages\/1-introduction"}],"internal_book_links":[],"video_content":null,"cc_video_embed_content":{"cc_scripts":"","media_targets":[]},"try_it_collection":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1296"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1296\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7003,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1296\/revisions\/7003"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/1292"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1296\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=1296"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=1296"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=1296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}