Which theory views stress as a stimulus?

Which theory views stress as a stimulus?

• A. Stress as stimulus
• B. Stress as response
• C. Stress as transaction
• D. Stress as process including internal and external demands and resources

Answer: (A)

Stress under this view is defined by the presence of an external event or situation that acts as the stressor. The focus is on the stimulus itself—the thing occurring in the environment that challenges the person and may trigger a stress response. This helps explain why the correct choice fits best: it treats stress as something outside the individual (a stimulus) that initiates the experience, rather than focusing on how the person reacts to it or how they interpret and cope with it. In contrast, stress as a response concentrates on physiological or psychological reactions to stress, the transactional view centers on appraisal and coping processes between person and environment, and the process-oriented perspective describes ongoing demands and resources in a dynamic interaction. So viewing stress as stimulus captures the idea that the stress originates from an external trigger that can be identified and measured.

Stress under this view is defined by the presence of an external event or situation that acts as the stressor. The focus is on the stimulus itself—the thing occurring in the environment that challenges the person and may trigger a stress response. This helps explain why the correct choice fits best: it treats stress as something outside the individual (a stimulus) that initiates the experience, rather than focusing on how the person reacts to it or how they interpret and cope with it. In contrast, stress as a response concentrates on physiological or psychological reactions to stress, the transactional view centers on appraisal and coping processes between person and environment, and the process-oriented perspective describes ongoing demands and resources in a dynamic interaction. So viewing stress as stimulus captures the idea that the stress originates from an external trigger that can be identified and measured.