1. Caroline experiences stress because she is home alone and hears unusual noises outside.
An example of a stimulus-based definition of stress is 'Caroline experiences stress because she is home alone and hears unusual noises outside'.
More information:
Stress as a demanding or threatening event or situation. Such conceptualizations are known as stimulus-based definitions because they characterize stress as a stimulus that causes certain reactions.
E.g., a high-stress job, overcrowding, and long commutes to work... etc.