A biological and psychological phenomenon where small amounts of stress or challenge actually strengthen an organism or person, while larger amounts would be harmful. In psychology, this refers to how manageable stressors can build resilience and coping capacity.
From Greek 'hormaein' meaning 'to set in motion' or 'to excite.' Originally a toxicology term from the 1940s describing how low doses of toxins could be beneficial, it was later applied to psychology to explain how mild stress exposure builds psychological strength.
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