Course detailStanfordEmerging / Needs Reviewopen

PSY 09

Stress: The Double Agent

While stress may seem unavoidable, understanding its nuances can empower you to leverage it for success rather than let it sabotage your well-being.

This course teaches you to examine stress as a "double agent" that sometimes acts as a motivator to enhance your focus and performance and at other times undermines your mental and physical health.

Using cutting-edge neuroscience and psychology, we will explore how short bursts of stress can sharpen problem-solving, boost memory, and improve performance in high-pressure situations.

We will also examine how chronic stress can damage the brain, weaken the immune system, and contribute to conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

Considering biological factors such as hormone levels and brain structure, we will understand why some people excel under pressure while others struggle.

Through lectures, discussions, and hands-on techniques like cognitive restructuring to shift unhelpful thought patterns, you will gain practical tools to reframe stress as a potential ally instead of a foe.

Schedule note
Starts July 29, 2026; Days W

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