irritatievoor

irritatievoor is a Dutch neologism used to denote the antecedent or stimulus that provokes an irritability response in a person or system. The word combines irritatie (irritation) with voor, a component that in Dutch compounds can signal causation or proximity in time. The term is primarily found in informal discussions about emotional regulation and self-help, rather than as an established concept in formal psychology.

Definition and usage: An irritatievoor refers to the specific trigger or precursor that precedes an irritable reaction. By identifying an irritatievoor, individuals can practice strategies to mitigate irritation, such as anticipatory coping, situation modification, or cognitive reframing. The term is often used to describe everyday situations rather than clinical phenomena.

Examples: A persistent background noise can be an irritatievoor for someone with heightened sensory sensitivity; a tight deadline may be an irritatievoor for a team member who experiences stress under time pressure. In therapy or coaching, recognizing irritatievoor can help structure coping plans or interventions aimed at reducing irritability.

Status and reception: The term is not widely used in scholarly literature and lacks a formal definition or measurement. Critics warn that it can be confused with broader concepts like triggers or antecedents and may overlap with categories such as situational stressors or proximal stimuli. Proponents view irritatievoor as a practical shorthand for everyday self-reflection rather than a clinical category.

See also: Trigger, Triggering (psychology), Irritability, Cognitive-behavioral therapy.