In the context of stress psychology, the term "hassles" refers to which of the following?

Introduction / Context:
In psychology, especially in the study of stress and health, researchers distinguish between major life events and everyday hassles. While major events like losing a job or experiencing a serious illness are obviously stressful, small daily frustrations can also have a significant impact over time. This question tests your understanding of the technical meaning of the term “hassles” as used in stress research and general psychology.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The word in focus is “hassles.”
• Options mention major annoyances, personal limitations, unpleasant interactions, minor annoyances, and rare life events.
• We assume the definition used in psychological studies rather than casual slang only.
• Hassles are usually contrasted with major life events such as marriage, divorce or bereavement.
• The correct option should highlight small, frequent stressors in daily life.

Concept / Approach:
Psychologists define hassles as minor everyday problems and irritations that, although small individually, can accumulate and contribute significantly to overall stress levels. Examples include traffic jams, noisy neighbours, arguments, misplaced keys and small delays. Unlike major life events, hassles are frequent and often repetitive. They differ from personal limitations, which are more about abilities or disabilities, and from rare crisis events. Thus, the best answer is the option that describes minor, routine annoyances rather than major or rare problems.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the central idea behind “hassles” in psychology: small, everyday irritations that add up.Step 2: Examine option D, which describes minor annoyances and small irritations of everyday life that accumulate and create stress. This matches the standard definition.Step 3: Examine option A, which talks about major annoyances or crises. These are closer to major life events, not hassles.Step 4: Examine option B, where personal limitations prevent goal pursuit. That refers to abilities or constraints, not minor daily stressors.Step 5: Examine option C, which focuses narrowly on interacting with disliked people to reach goals. While this can be a hassle, it is too specific and not the general definition.Step 6: Option E restricts hassles to financial problems and job loss, which are major events, not minor annoyances. Therefore, option D is clearly correct.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard stress scales, such as the “Daily Hassles” scales used in psychological research, list items like standing in line, having too many things to do, losing things, small quarrels and minor technical problems. These are clearly small, routine issues rather than rare, life changing events. Textbooks emphasise that while each hassle is minor, the cumulative effect over time can be as damaging as major life events, sometimes more so. This matches the wording of option D and confirms that it correctly conveys the meaning of hassles in this context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Option A talks about major annoyances or crises, which correspond to major life events rather than everyday hassles.
• Option B shifts the focus to personal limitations and abilities, not daily stressors.
• Option C narrows the idea to interactions with disliked people, which is only one possible type of hassle and not the full concept.
• Option E mentions financial problems and job loss, which are serious, infrequent events, not minor everyday annoyances.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes associate the word “hassle” with any stressful situation, including serious crises. In psychological terminology, however, hassles have a more specific meaning that focuses on minor, recurring irritations. Another pitfall is to choose an answer that sounds dramatic or severe, assuming that greater intensity must be correct. Remember that the technical term hassles is about frequency and accumulation rather than extreme severity. Keeping this distinction in mind will help you pick the right option in similar questions.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is minor annoyances and small irritations of everyday life that accumulate and create stress, which accurately defines the term “hassles” in psychology.