Characteristics of challenging situations : two policy-capturing studies

Purpose: Although 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/approach: Potential characteristics of challenge are tested in two policy-capturing studies using a full factorial experimental design. Findings: Results reveal that situations are appraised as more challenging than threatening when goal importance, task difficulty and controllability are high rather than low. Research limitations/implications: These 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/value: This paper provides a first experimental test of characteristics of challenging situations.