Which interpretation of an event will most likely result in the strongest stress response?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

When evaluating how events trigger stress, the key idea is how the individual interprets the event in terms of threat, challenge, or other meanings.
Option a: 'Event is considered eustress' suggests viewing the event as a positive, manageable stressor. Eustress is associated with motivation and arousal that aids performance, typically producing less intense stress responses than perceived threats.
Option b: 'Event is appraised as a challenge' frames the situation as something to overcome and may still elicit stress, but often with a more proactive, energized response rather than a maximal stress reaction. For many theories, challenge appraisals are linked to resilience and engagement rather than the strongest stress signals.
Option c: 'Event is goal congruent and relevant' emphasizes personal goals and relevance, which can increase motivation and focus but does not necessarily imply the strongest physiological stress response. It may still induce stress, but not the peak response typically associated with threat appraisal.
Option d: 'Event is appraised as a threat' aligns with the literature on stress physiology, where perceiving something as threatening activates the fight-or-flight system, heightens physiological arousal, and drives the strongest stress responses. This interpretation maximizes cortisol release, heart rate, and vigilance, leading to the most intense stress experience among the given options.
In essence, threat appraisal directly triggers sympathetic activation and a heightened stress state, whereas the other appraisals (eustress, challenge, or goal relevance) are typically associated with more moderated or positive responses and preparation rather than peak stress.

253PSYC-38A-1 Midterm Exam (October 16th at 5:30 pm)

Which interpretation of an event will most likely result in the strongest stress response?

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