Characteristics of challenging situations: two policy-capturing studies

Abstract

PurposeAlthough the appraisal of a situation as challenging has positive effects on performance and stress-related outcomes, the situational and individual characteristics that make challenge appraisal likely are far from clear. The purpose of this paper is to test these characteristics based on a review of the conceptualizations of challenge and the associated positive effects.Design/methodology/approachPotential characteristics of challenge are tested in two policy-capturing studies using a full factorial experimental design.FindingsResults reveal that situations are appraised as more challenging than threatening when goal importance, task difficulty and controllability are high rather than low.Research limitations/implicationsThese results indicate that challenge and threat are distinguished through the means a person believes to have available to cope with demands, an aspect of controllability.Originality/valueThis paper provides a first experimental test of characteristics of challenging situations.