Psychological stress
Also known as: stress · mental stress · stress, psychological
- 1Characterized as a feeling of emotional strain and pressure.
- 2Small amounts of stress can improve athletic performance and motivation.
- 3Excessive stress is a risk factor for ulcers and heart attacks.
- 4Can aggravate pre-existing mental health conditions.
In psychology, stress is a feeling of emotional strain and pressure.
Connections1
subject of unethical research experiments
Kaczynski was a subject in Henry Murray's psychological stress experiments at Harvard, which involved intense verbal abuse and humiliation.
Psychological stress is defined as a state of emotional strain and pressure that manifests as mental or psychological discomfort. It is a natural response to environmental demands, and its impact on an individual can vary significantly depending on the intensity and duration of the experience.
A stressed woman waiting in line at a medical centreWikimedia CommonsCoping through laughterWikimedia CommonsFigure 3: The adrenaline response curve for various degrees of depression.Wikimedia Commons; Name of Feather at English Wikibooks; Transferred from en.wikibooks to Commons.; CC BY-SA 3.0; Wikimedia Commons: Category:Psychological stressA photo of a woman portraying the emotion of stressWikimedia Commons; Becky Wetherington BLW Photography on Flickr; https://www.flickr.com/photos/macbeck/4003446559/; CC BY 2.0; Wikimedia Commons; Wikidata P18 (image)An anxious personWikimedia Commons; GRPH3B18; Own work; CC BY-SA 3.0; Wikimedia Commons; Wikidata P18 (image) While moderate levels of stress can be beneficial by enhancing motivation, athletic performance, and environmental awareness, chronic or excessive stress is detrimental. Prolonged exposure is linked to serious health risks, including heart attacks, strokes, and the development or exacerbation of mental illnesses such as depression.