Rahul, 42, manages a bank branch in Pune. For eight months he has faced heavy targets, late hours and little help at home. His heart races and his blood pressure has gone up. He keeps forgetting figures he read a few minutes earlier, and he has made two wrong loan decisions that cost the bank money. At home he swings from anger to sadness and has begun avoiding his friends, which makes him feel less sure of himself. His doctor finds stomach ulcers and frequent headaches, and notes that Rahul now catches colds and infections far more often than before.
Rahul forgets figures he read a few minutes earlier and makes wrong loan decisions. Which effect of stress do these two problems show?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Cognitive effects
Option (1) Cognitive effects — Correct. Forgetting what was read a few minutes ago is reduced short-term memory capacity. Continued pressure brings mental overload and a loss of the ability to make sound decisions, so faulty decisions and financial loss follow. Both problems are cognitive effects of stress, which act on thinking.
Option (2) Physiological effects — Incorrect. Physiological effects come from hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. They show in the body, as in Rahul's racing heart and higher blood pressure.
Option (3) Emotional effects — Incorrect. Emotional effects are mood swings, anxiety, depression and tension. Rahul's swings between anger and sadness, and his drifting away from friends, show these. They do not explain his memory lapses or wrong decisions.
Option (4) Behavioural effects — Incorrect. Behavioural effects are changes in daily habits, such as poor eating, disturbed sleep and absenteeism. Wrong decisions may look like behaviour, but they come from a breakdown in thinking, so they are cognitive.
NCERT (2026-27): “EFFECTS OF STRESS ON PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING AND HEALTH … “Cognitive Effects : If pressures due to stress continue, one may suffer from mental overload. This suffering from high level of stress can rapidly cause individuals to lose their ability to make sound decisions. Faulty decisions made at home, in career, or at workplace may lead to arguments, failure, financial loss or even loss of job. Cognitive effects of stress are poor concentration, and reduced short-term memory capacity.” |