No. 316 · Your own mind · Human Nature and Judgement
Influence of Stress
A little pressure sharpens judgement; too much breaks it.
In the Almanac
“Yerkes and Dodson’s mice”, 1908 · “Dentsu”, 2015–2017
Both stories in full, three ways to use it and where it misleads.
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Questions
What is Influence of Stress?
The Influence of Stress describes how pressure shapes our decisions. A moderate amount raises focus and energy, but beyond a tipping point stress narrows attention, weakens memory and pushes us toward rash or rigid choices.
How do you use Influence of Stress?
To manage it, find your own sweet spot, avoid big financial decisions at peak stress, and build real recovery into your days. If stress becomes overwhelming, reach out to someone you trust or a professional.
When does Influence of Stress matter?
Influence of Stress is one of the 31 mental models for your own mind, the situations where you ask: Is my own thinking leading me astray? Within that, it belongs to “Feelings that steer you”, alongside Deprival-Superreaction Tendency, Fear and Freudian Slip.
What is an example of Influence of Stress?
Two stories show it at work: Yerkes and Dodson’s mice (1908) and Dentsu (2015–2017). Both are told in full in The Mental Models Daily Almanac, which has two stories for each of its 365 models.
Which mental models are related to Influence of Stress?
Flywheel, Resilience and Information Overload. Influence of Stress itself comes from human nature and judgement.