Final answer:
Social stress can influence the reward threshold, with higher stress levels initially improving performance (eustress) but excessive stress (distress) leading to burnout and decreased performance. Positive social support can mitigate stress effects, whereas negative interactions can increase stress and affect reward processing and risk evaluation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Research by neuroscientists like Robert Sapolsky and Carol Shively has contributed to our understanding of how social stress impacts individuals, including alterations in their reward threshold. Social stress, which can be experienced due to one's position within a social hierarchy or in stigmatized individuals, can predict an array of mental health outcomes and the onset of diseases. This relationship between social stress and health outcomes can influence an individual's behavior and decision-making processes, particularly when it comes to risk and rewards.
Under stress, there can be a physiological response in which the balance between stimulatory and inhibitory receptors at synaptic membranes increases, potentially affecting how rewards are perceived. Higher levels of stress may initially improve performance and well-being (eustress), as shown in the 'stress-performance curve,' but excessive stress (distress) can lead to burnout and decreased performance. Stress-related physiological changes, such as increased secretion of the hormone norepinephrine in stressful situations, can affect reward sensitivity—which may explain certain behavioral tendencies like pathological gambling.
Tasks that are complex and difficult can lead to the opposite effect of social loafing, where increased social stress can motivate someone to perform at their best if their individual efforts are valued. Social support can also mitigate the negative effects of stressful tasks, often leading to lower blood pressure during stressor exposure when a supportive friend is present. Conversely, lack of social support or negative social interactions can increase stress and potentially shift one's reward threshold, making them prioritize social rewards or succumb to peer pressure under risk assessment.