Classification of Stressor Event & Situations Source Internal – Events that begin from someone inside the family, such as addition, suicide, violence or running for an election External – Events that begin from someone or something outside the family, such as floods, terrorism and inflation

Classification of Stressor Event & Situations Type Normative Developmental Predictable Events that are expected during the life course: birth, puberty, adolescence, marriage, aging, menopause, retirement and death Catastrophic Situational Unexpected Events or situations not foreseen: a young person dies

Classification of Stressor Event & Situations Type Ambiguous Events or situations that remain unclear; facts about the status of a family member remain unclear; facts are unavailable or unclear Clear Facts are available; family knows what is happening and how it will turn out

Classification of Stressor Event & Situations Type Volitional Events or situations that are wanted and sought out: freely chosen job changes, college entrance, or a wanted pregnancy Nonvolitional Events or situations not freely chosen: laid off, fired, divorced and given up for adoption

Classification of Stressor Event & Situations Duration Chronic A situation of long duration: diabetes, chemical addiction, or discrimination and prejudice Acute Event that lasts a short time but is stressful: broken leg

Classification of Stressor Event & Situations Density Cumulative Events or situations that pile up, one after the other, so there is no time to cope before the next stressor occurs; families worn down by multiple unresolved stressors Isolated One event that occurs with no other stressors; easlily pinpointed

Perception Student writing on page 58 If I do not view things the way others do, is it a bad thing? Must I constantly remind myself that I am perceiving it differently and try to perceive it in the way they do in order to help them? Or do I just need to know their perceptions in order to fully understand the premise they are coming from?

Family Stress Pressure on the family; disturbance of the family’s steady state (homeostasis) Lowered performance in the family’s usual routines and tasks The occurrence of physical or emotional symptoms May not be perceived as negative by some families

Family Crisis A disturbance in the equilibrium (homeostasis) that is overwhelming A pressure that is severe A change that is acute The family system is blocked, immobilized and incapacitated for a time

Recovery Results from Change in the stressor event Change in the availability of resources for coping Change in the perception of both factors