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Introduction to Stress definitions

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  • Stress
    A psychological and physiological reaction to events perceived as challenging, threatening, or overwhelming, influencing both mind and body.
  • Stressor
    Any event or situation that triggers a psychological and physiological response due to its perceived challenge or threat.
  • Psychological Response
    Mental processes such as worry, rumination, or appraisal that occur when facing a challenging or threatening event.
  • Physiological Response
    Bodily reactions, such as changes in heart rate or arousal, that accompany the experience of stress.
  • Appraisal
    A judgment process that determines how an individual interprets and responds to a potential stressor.
  • Primary Appraisal
    The initial evaluation of how harmful or threatening an event may be to one's well-being.
  • Secondary Appraisal
    The assessment of available coping resources and their effectiveness in managing a stressor.
  • Coping
    Any strategy or resource, positive or negative, used to manage or deal with stress.
  • Challenge
    An interpretation of a stressor as an opportunity for growth, achievement, or advancement, often linked to positive outcomes.
  • Threat
    An interpretation of a stressor as potentially harmful or leading to negative consequences, often increasing anxiety.
  • Challenge versus Threat Framework
    A model explaining how stressors are appraised as either opportunities or dangers, especially in high-performance contexts.
  • Mindset
    An individual's overarching attitude or approach that shapes how stressors are interpreted and managed.
  • Performance
    The effectiveness or outcome of actions, which can be influenced by how stressors are appraised and managed.
  • High-Performance Situation
    A context involving high motivation or competition where the appraisal of stressors as threats or challenges is especially relevant.
  • Neutral Stressor
    An event that does not elicit a strong appraisal as either a threat or a challenge, often seen as a minor inconvenience.