Overreaktion

Overreaktion is a term used to describe an excessive or disproportionate response to a stimulus. It can refer to emotional reactions, judgments, or physical responses that exceed what would be expected given the context. In English, the term is usually written as overreaction, but the German form Überreaktion is equivalent and may appear in bilingual texts.

In psychology and everyday life, overreaktion describes reactions such as outsized anger, fear, or defensiveness to minor provocations. Factors include acute stress, anxiety, past trauma, misinterpretation of intent, and difficulties with emotion regulation. These responses can escalate conflicts and impair decision making.

Medically, overreaction can describe immune hyperreactivity, such as allergic reactions or inflammatory responses that exceed what is necessary. In severe cases, excessive immune activation can cause tissue damage. In critical care, cytokine storms represent a particularly extreme form of overreaction.

Causes and mechanisms include cognitive biases, distress, sleep deprivation, and environmental triggers. Neurobiological models point to heightened arousal and amygdala activation, along with learned coping patterns that amplify perceived threat.

Management focuses on reducing arousal and reframing appraisal. Strategies include mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral techniques, de-escalation, communication training, and seeking support or professional help when overreactive patterns recur and impair functioning.

Usage notes: Overreaction is more common in everyday language; more precise clinical terms include hyperreactivity, hypersensitivity, or exaggerated responses to specific stimuli.