In Lazarus's view of stress, the assessment of possible future damage…

In Lazarus's view of stress, the assessment of possible future damage that may be brought about by an event is called:

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 1

The correct answer is Option (1) → Threat

Option (1) Threat — Correct. In primary appraisal, a negative event is judged for harm, threat or challenge. Threat looks ahead: it is the judgement of possible future damage the event may bring.

Option (2) Harm — Incorrect. Harm looks back. It is the judgement of damage that has already been done by an event.

Option (3) Challenge — Incorrect. Challenge is the hopeful reading of an event. It goes with confident expectations of coping and even gaining from the event.

Option (4) Secondary appraisal — Incorrect. Secondary appraisal is the second level of judgement. It weighs one's coping abilities and resources against the harm, threat or challenge, so it does not judge the damage itself.

NCERT (2026-27): “Nature of Stress …
Lazarus has distinguished between two types of appraisal, i.e. primary and secondary. Primary appraisal refers to the perception of a new or changing environment as positive, neutral or negative in its consequences. Negative events are appraised for their possible harm, threat or challenge. Harm is the assessment of the damage that has already been done by an event. Threat is the assessment of possible future damage that may be brought about by the event. Challenge appraisals are associated with more confident expectations of the ability to cope with the stressful event, the potential to overcome and even profit from the event. When we perceive an event as stressful, we are likely to make a secondary appraisal, which is the assessment of one’s coping abilities and resources and whether they will be sufficient to meet the harm, threat or challenge of the event. These resources may be mental, physical, personal or social. …”