According to Hans Selye, stress is

A) a specific response to a specific demand on the body.
B) a cognitive, not physical, response to a threatening situation.
C) any reaction to the environment that increases activity in the parasympathetic nervous system.
D) a nonspecific response of the body to any demand made upon it.

Hans Selye

A pioneering endocrinologist known for his research on the effects of stress on the human body and for defining the "General Adaptation Syndrome."

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system that conserves energy by slowing the heart rate, increasing intestinal and gland activity, and relaxing sphincter muscles.

Stress

The body's response to any demand or challenge, which can be physical, mental, or emotional, and can have both positive and negative effects.