FIGURE 12.1 Stress and Appraisal According to Richard Lazarus (1999), events are not stressful in and of themselves. Instead, the experience of stress is determined by your subjective response to external events or circumstances. If you believe you have the resources necessary to meet a challenge, you’ll experience little or no stress. We evaluate—and re-evaluate—our coping responses as we deal with stressful circumstances. If our coping efforts are successful, stress will decrease. If unsuccessful, stress will increase.

Aleksandar Stojkovic/Shutterstock