Chapter 6Stress

Human Behavior in Organizations, 2nd EditionRodney Vandeveer and Michael Menefee

© 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.Modified by Jackie Kroening 20112

What is Stress? Stress is a general term

applied to pressures people feel in life.

Stress is also the way we react physically and emotionally to demands where the outcome is uncertain and important.

Human Behavior in Organizations, 2nd EditionRodney Vandeveer and Michael Menefee

© 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.Modified by Jackie Kroening 20113

Stress Is stress necessarily bad?

** Eustress — beneficial stress. Stress is a fact of life and is

unavoidable. What are the symptoms showing

stress?

Human Behavior in Organizations, 2nd EditionRodney Vandeveer and Michael Menefee

© 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.Modified by Jackie Kroening 20114

Stress From our definition, two

conditions are necessary for potential stress to become actual stress: uncertainty importance

Human Behavior in Organizations, 2nd EditionRodney Vandeveer and Michael Menefee

© 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.Modified by Jackie Kroening 20115

Stress HighLow

High

Performance

The Relationship Between Stressand Job Performance

Yerkes-Dodson Curve

Human Behavior in Organizations, 2nd EditionRodney Vandeveer and Michael Menefee

© 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.Modified by Jackie Kroening 20116

Positive Stress(Eustress)

Better focused Energized Motivated Aware of options – more creative Challenged rather than intimidated Change agent

Human Behavior in Organizations, 2nd EditionRodney Vandeveer and Michael Menefee

© 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.Modified by Jackie Kroening 20117

Negative Stress(Stressor)

Tense Anxious Angry or depressed Withdrawing or lashing out Frustrated Resist change

Human Behavior in Organizations, 2nd EditionRodney Vandeveer and Michael Menefee

© 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.Modified by Jackie Kroening 20118

What happens in your body• Stress hormones (adrenaline, cortisol) are released• Pulse, blood pressure and breathing increase• Digestive system stops.• Blood moves from internal organs to muscles

Human Behavior in Organizations, 2nd EditionRodney Vandeveer and Michael Menefee

© 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.Modified by Jackie Kroening 20119

Effects of Stress Physiological

Headaches, ulcers, high blood pressure, hives

Psychological Tension, anxiety, irritability, fear

Behavioral Smoking, mannerisms, eating

habits, sleep disorders

Human Behavior in Organizations, 2nd EditionRodney Vandeveer and Michael Menefee

© 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.Modified by Jackie Kroening 201110

How Does One React to Stress?

Avoid – Pretend it doesn’t exist. Resist – Fight stress

Environmental factors – time, support Organizational factors – policies, rules Individual factors – education, training

Confront/Adapt – Work to identify the real cause and eliminate it, change it, or cope with it.

Human Behavior in Organizations, 2nd EditionRodney Vandeveer and Michael Menefee

© 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.Modified by Jackie Kroening 201111

Additional Implications Perception – a person’s perception of a

situation will influence the level of stress. Locus of Control – internal versus external

locus of control. Job Experience – the greater the job

experience, the more comfortable the employee becomes with the work situation.

Social Support – the stronger the relationships, the better one handles stress.

Type of Personality – A or B.

Human Behavior in Organizations, 2nd EditionRodney Vandeveer and Michael Menefee

© 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.Modified by Jackie Kroening 201112

Fight – Flight Response

• Fight response = Body prepares to defend itself• Flight response = Escape distress rather than battle it

Human Behavior in Organizations, 2nd EditionRodney Vandeveer and Michael Menefee

© 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.Modified by Jackie Kroening 201113

** Stress Management ** Techniques

Establish personal priorities Physical exercise Time management Relaxation Music Pets

Human Behavior in Organizations, 2nd EditionRodney Vandeveer and Michael Menefee

© 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.Modified by Jackie Kroening 201114

Summary It is important for you to find out how

to handle stress for yourself and also to help those you lead.

Stress is a general term applied to pressures people feel in life.

Human Behavior in Organizations, 2nd EditionRodney Vandeveer and Michael Menefee

© 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.Modified by Jackie Kroening 201115

Summary Two conditions are necessary for

potential stress to become actual stress: uncertainty and level of importance.

Stress may be positive or negative. Stress can effect an individual

physically, psychologically, and emotionally.

Human Behavior in Organizations, 2nd EditionRodney Vandeveer and Michael Menefee

© 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.Modified by Jackie Kroening 201116

Summary Learn stress management techniques

that work for you and those under your leadership.