Physiologist Hans Selye, whose work helped shape modern stress theory, advanced the idea that physical and psychosocial stressors trigger the same physiological response. Selye explored the line between short-term stress that stimulates people to summon the resources to hurdle obstacles (so-called "good" stress) and chronic or overabundant stress, which wears down the ability to adapt and cope ("bad" stress or distress).
Two Harvard researchers, Robert M. Yerkes and John D. Dodson, likewise demonstrated that a jolt of stress isn't necessarily bad. They noted that as stress or anxiety levels rose, so did performance and efficiency — up to a point. At this turning point, further stress and anxiety led to significant decreases in performance and ability.
Where that line is drawn or where that turning point falls seems to differ from person to person. For while the stress response is hard-wired into humans and other animals, the events and perceptions that set it off vary widely. What you perceive as a threatening situation, your neighbor may easily brush aside or even relish.
Who knew stress could be a good thing!?
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