Overreactivity

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A phenomenon in which one exhibits an intensified response to stimuli that ordinarily yield subdued reactions; a state in which emotional or physical responses are amplified beyond what is considered typical; the tendency for responses to be disproportionately vigorous when faced with triggering situations or stimuli
2. An occurrence where reactions to inputs are stronger than usual, often leading to exaggerated emotional or physical effects
3. The condition of responding to events or triggers with more intensity than normally expected, causing amplified behavior or feelings

Etymology: "Overreactivity" is a plain compound: the prefix "over-", meaning excessive or beyond the proper degree, attached to "reactivity," the quality of responding to something. Put together, it names the tendency to react more strongly than a situation calls for. The base word "reactivity" comes from "react," which traces back through Latin "reagere," meaning to act back against something, built from "re-" (back) and "agere" (to act). "Reactivity" is itself a modern formation, used especially in chemistry for how readily a substance undergoes reaction, and in psychology and medicine for how strongly a person or organism responds to stimuli. Adding "over-" simply pushes that sense past the normal range.

Synonyms: excessive response