Understanding Stress Responses

Stress can be defined as a psychological response to external stimuli that challenge an individual's ability to cope. When facing a stressful situation, individuals commonly experience a range of emotional and physiological changes. For example, when a student anticipates a major exam, they may feel anxious, have increased heart rate, and find it difficult to concentrate. Such responses can impact their performance significantly. Understanding the relationship between emotions and stress responses is crucial in managing stress effectively.

One widely recognized framework for understanding stress is the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping proposed by Lazarus and Folkman. This model posits that stress arises from a transaction between an individual and their environment, specifically how the individual appraises and copes with a stressor. The model emphasizes the importance of cognitive appraisal in determining the emotional response to stress. Based on this framework, strategies for coping with stress can be divided into problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping.