Which of the following best explains why Simone is feeling upset about her writing assignment, according to psychological theories of stress?

• A. She has already completed the assignment and is waiting for feedback.
• B. She is upset because she enjoys writing and wants more assignments.
• C. She perceives the assignment as exceeding her coping resources, leading to stress.
• D. She finds the assignment easy and is bored with the topic.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of stress in psychology, which occurs when an individual perceives that the demands of a situation exceed their coping resources.
2. Step 2: Identify that stress is not simply about the presence of a challenge, but about the individual's appraisal or perception of that challenge relative to their ability to manage it.
3. Step 3: Analyze the options given and recognize that feeling upset due to perceiving the assignment as overwhelming aligns with the stress appraisal model.
4. Step 4: Recall that positive feelings (such as enjoyment or boredom) do not typically indicate stress, but rather different emotional responses.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the best explanation for Simone's upset feelings is that she perceives the assignment as exceeding her coping resources, which is consistent with psychological theories of stress.