Maintained or enhanced stress responses to non-habituating regimens are likely linked to both severity and predictability. As noted above, stress regimens that vary in intensity habituate at different rates (Garcia et al., 2000). One could posit that a stress regimen of sufficient intensity may be able to completely block the habituation process and lead to maladaptive consequences. In addition, regimens that vary stressors or have uncertain outcomes (e.g., social stressors) may not sufficiently engage habituation mechanisms, thus allowing physiological or behavioral responses to persist for extended periods of time. It is likely that both factors are involved in determining the net impact of chronic stress exposure on the individual.
