Key Terms & Concepts: Sources of Stress: Stress: A state of psychological tension or strain. Adjustment: Any effort to cope with stress. Health Psychology: A subfield of psychological concerned with the relationship between psychological factors and physical health and illness. Stressor: Any environmental demand that creates a state of tension or threat and requires change or adaptation.
Pressure: A feeling that one must speed up, intensify, or change the direction of one’s behavior or to live up to a higher standard of performance. Frustration: The feeling that occurs when a person is prevented from reaching a goal. Conflict: Simultaneous existence of incompatible demands, opportunities, needs or goals.
Approach / Approach Conflict: According to Lewin, the result of simultaneous attraction to two appealing possibilities, neither of which has any negative qualities. Avoidance / Avoidance Conflict: According to Lewin, the result of facing a choice between two undesirable possibilities, neither of which has any positive qualities. Approach / Avoidance Conflict: According to Lewin, the result of being simultaneously attracted to and repelled by the same goal.
Do Now: What are the top three most stressful things you are currently facing? What techniques do you use to manage your stress? Are they effective? Why or why not?
Coping With Stress I. Direct Coping: Intentional efforts to change an uncomfortable situation. a. Confrontation: Acknowledging a stressful situation directly and attempting to find a solution to the problem or to attain the direct goal. b. Compromise: Deciding on a more realistic solution or goal when an ideal solution or goal is not practical. c. Withdrawal: Avoiding a situation when other forms of coping are not practical.
II. Defense Coping: Focuses on the use of defense mechanisms. a. Defense Mechanisms: Self-deceptive techniques for reducing stress including denial, repression, projection, identification, regression, intellectualization, reaction formation, displacement, and sublimation.