Which term is used to describe the mental reaction to a threat?

The term used to describe the mental reaction to a threat is stress. Stress is a physiological and psychological response to perceived challenges or threats, often referred to as a "fight or flight" response. When individuals encounter a threat, their bodies release stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which prepare them to respond to the danger. This response can manifest in various ways, including heightened awareness, increased heart rate, and a range of emotional reactions.

Emotion, while it can encompass feelings of stress, is a broader term that includes various feelings such as happiness, anger, and sadness and does not specifically refer to a reaction to a threat. Joviality refers to a cheerful and friendly disposition, and calmness indicates a state of peace or tranquility, which are the opposite of the stress response triggered by a threat. Therefore, in the context of mental reactions to threats, stress accurately captures the immediate, often heightened state of awareness and physiological changes that occur.