Ace the North Carolina Correctional Officer Exam 2025 – Your Badge of Honor Awaits!

In the context of stress, the term "cognitive symptom" refers specifically to issues related to mental processes, such as thinking, understanding, and decision-making. When someone experiences cognitive symptoms due to stress, they may find it challenging to concentrate, think clearly, or make decisions effectively. This can affect their problem-solving abilities and overall cognitive functioning.

This aligns with the choice that refers to a poor ability to make decisions, as stress can lead to confusion and clouded judgment. Other options, while they may be related to stress, describe physical or emotional symptoms rather than cognitive ones. Physical agitation pertains more to bodily responses to stress, behavioral outbursts relate to actions taken in response to stress, and emotional breakdowns involve feelings and emotional responses to stress. However, cognitive symptoms specifically highlight the mental challenges that arise when an individual is under stress, making the focus on decision-making particularly relevant.