Stress and Coping. Stress – any circumstances that threaten or are perceived to threaten one’s well-being and tax one’s ability to cope

Stress and Coping

Stress and CopingStress – any circumstances that threaten or are perceived to threaten one’s well-being and tax one’s ability to cope.


Each of us experience stress multiple times per day.


Each of us experience stress multiple times per day. Some stresses may be major (you are the victim of a crime, parent dies, divorce, injury or serious illness) but most are minor.


Each of us experience stress multiple times per day. Some stresses may be major (you are the victim of a crime, parent dies, divorce, injury or serious illness) but most are minor. Major stress can have deleterious effects on us psychologically as well as physically.


Each of us experience stress multiple times per day. Some stresses may be major (you are the victim of a crime, parent dies, divorce, injury or serious illness) but most are minor. Major stress can have deleterious effects on us psychologically as well as physically. But minor stresses can also be damaging because their effects tend to accumulate.

Our ability to respond successfully to stressing situations depends primarily on the process of Appraisal, that is, how one subjectively judges the events that might lead to stress.


Each of us experience stress multiple times per day. Some stresses may be major (you are the victim of a crime, parent dies, divorce, injury or serious illness) but most are minor. Major stress can have deleterious effects on us psychologically as well as physically. But minor stresses can also be damaging because their effects tend to accumulate.

Our ability to respond successfully to stressing situations depends primarily on the process of Appraisal, that is, how one subjectively judges the events that might lead to stress.

Martin Seligman has looked at how one’s appraisal (explanatory style) of stressful events affects the impact these events have upon us.

Martin Seligman’s Research on Explanatory

Style and Reaction to Stressful Events.

Psychological Events That Can Cause Stress

Psychological Events That Can Cause StressFrustration

Psychological Events That Can Cause StressFrustration – the negative psychological experience that results from the progress toward some expected goal being blocked, thwarted, or delayed.


Reactions to Frustration:



The Frustration Effect (FE)



The Frustration Effect (FE) – the behavior that immediately follows frustration is likely to be elevated in energy level.




Frustration-Induced Aggression




Frustration-Induced Aggression – hostility directed toward the object or person that has prevented us from reaching our goal.




Frustration-Induced Aggression – hostility directed toward the object or person that has prevented us from reaching our goal.

- Aggression is often times displaced, that is, shifted onto another person or object other

that the one responsible for our frustration


Conflict – when two or more incompatible motivations or behavioral impulses compete for expression.


Conflict – when two or more incompatible motivations or behavioral impulses compete for expression. (Can be Approach or Avoidance tendencies involved).



Life Changes – significant alterations in one’s living circumstances that require us to adjust or life style in some way.

Stress Comes About as the Result of Changes in Our Lives To Which

We Must Readjust



Life Changes – significant alterations in one’s living circumstances that require us to adjust or life style in some way.

Pressure – expectations or demands of others that we behave in a particular way.

Responding to Stress





The General Adaptation Syndrome (Hans Selye)

The General Adaptation Syndrome (Hans Selye)The General Adaptation Syndrome is a model of the body’s response to stress.

The General Adaptation Syndrome (Hans Selye)The General Adaptation Syndrome is a model of the body’s response to stress. Selye believed these reactions to be “general”, that is, nonspecific, occurring in this way regardless of the source of stress (physiological or psychological).


Stage 1. The Alarm Reaction


Stage 1. The Alarm Reaction characterized by sympathetic arousal as the body marshals its resources to respond to the stressful circumstances (fight-or-flight).



Stage 2. The Stage of Resistance



Stage 2. The Stage of Resistance – coping efforts get underway as the body works to overcome the source of stress.




Stage 3. The Stage of Exhaustion




Stage 3. The Stage of Exhaustion – with prolonged stress, the body’s resources become depleted, the subject weakens, the immune reaction becomes compromised, cessation of efforts, collapse, death.

Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome


Health Psychology

Health Psychology

100 years ago, the major causes of death in America were infectious diseases.

Health Psychology

100 years ago, the major causes of death in America were infectious diseases. Today, the major reasons that people get sick are due to (or heavily influenced by) decisions we make about the way we live our lives.

How can psychology involved in

health care?

How Psychological Processes Impact Upon Health

How Psychological Processes Impact Upon HealthPsychosomatic Diseases

How Psychological Processes Impact Upon HealthPsychosomatic Diseases – physical ailments can be traced to a psychological origin. The mind can affect the body in unhealthy ways.


Ulcers

Hypertension

Heart Disease

Skin Disorders


Conversion Reactions


Conversion Reactions – physiological symptoms with no demonstrable physical change in the body.



Hysteria

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder



Psychogenic Immune Deficiency



Psychogenic Immune Deficiency – numerous disorders are tied to reduced immune reactions which may have a psychological origin.



Psychogenic Immune Deficiency – numerous disorders are tied to reduced immune reactions which may have a psychological origin. People that have Depression, Pessimism, or Anger are more likely to develop a host of different diseases.

Heart Disease and Chronic Anger




Health-Impairing Behaviors




Health-Impairing Behaviors – people greatly increase their likelihood of disease or premature death by engaging in self- destructive behaviors.




Health-Impairing Behaviors – people greatly increase their likelihood of disease or premature death by engaging in self- destructive behaviors.

Smoking Excessive Alcohol Consumption

Poor Food Choices Lack of Exercise

Risky Sexual Activity

Psychology is the Key to Modern

Day Health Practices

Documents

Stress and Coping. Stress – any circumstances that threaten or are perceived to threaten one’s well-being and tax one’s ability to cope