Final answer:
Students reacting negatively to the fear zone exhibit avoidance behavior, which describes evading stress-inducing situations. It differs from habituation, which is getting used to a stimulus, and learned helplessness, where one feels powerless to change a situation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The terminology for the negative reaction students have to the so-called 'fear zone' can be understood within the concept of avoidance behavior. This term best encapsulates the act of steering clear of situations or stimuli that are perceived as unpleasant or anxiety-inducing. In psychological terms, both habituation and learned helplessness relate to how individuals react to repeated stimuli or a lack of control over adverse events, respectively.
Habituation is the process by which an organism becomes accustomed to a particular stimulus after repeated exposure, while learned helplessness is when an organism no longer attempts to avoid a negative situation due to a belief that they cannot change the outcome. When confronted with a stressor, initially, the body may respond with an alarm reaction, which is part of the general adaptation syndrome and analogous to the fight-or-flight response.
If the stressor continues, the organism may enter a state of resistance, adapting to the stressor while still remaining alert. Prolonged exposure, however, may lead to exhaustion. Avoidance behavior is the term most relevant to the question, characterizing the action of evading a stress-inducing situation, like the fear zone mentioned in the question.