What is the term used to describe a psychological response to demands that exceed a person's capacity?

The term that describes a psychological response to demands that exceed a person's capacity is stress. Stress arises when an individual perceives that the pressures placed upon them outweigh their ability to cope with those demands, leading to a variety of physical and emotional reactions. It can be triggered by various factors, including work-related pressures, personal challenges, or significant life changes.

Understanding stress is crucial because it not only affects individual health and well-being but can also have a broader impact on workplace productivity and team dynamics. While anxiety, overwhelm, and burnout are related concepts, they represent different aspects of the overall experience tied to stress. Anxiety often refers to a feeling of worry or apprehension, while overwhelm denotes a state of being unable to cope due to excessive demands. Burnout, on the other hand, is a chronic state of physical and emotional exhaustion that can result from prolonged stress. Each of these is more specific, but stress is the overarching term that captures the psychological response to overwhelming demands.