Chapter 4: Toward a Psychology of Stress Modern man is sick because he is not whole. - Carl Gustav Jung

Mind-Body Connection Is the mind a function of the brain, a series of biochemical reactions, or is it a separate entity unto itself? This one question perhaps more than any other, initiated the discipline of psychology.

Mind-Body Connection In this chapter, we will look at how the mind perceives stress so that the “antiquated” stress response can be updated or recircuited, highlighting some specific aspects of the psychology of stress.

Psychological nature of stress This chapter will review the nature of stress from a psychological view Several theories will be explored including the theories and views of: Sigmund Freud; Carl Gustav Jung; Elisabeth Kubler-Ross; Viktor Frankl; Wayne Dyer; Leo Buscaglia; and Abraham Maslow

Sigmund Freud Freud believed that humans maintain a level of (instinctual) tension that arises from both internal sources (instinctual impulses) and external sources which attack our ego or identity. The ego copes with stress through the use of a host of defense mechanisms, including denial, repression, projection, rationalization, displacement, and humor. Defense mechanisms – coping strategies Denial – deny involvement or knowledge; innocent and nothing wrong Repression – involuntary removal of thoughts, memories, feelings from conscious mind. Usually from emotional discomfort or pain. (child abuse) Suppression – painful experiences are intentionally forgotten. Projection – attributing unacceptable feelings or behaviors to someone or something else. No ownership. OR projecting and assuming others feel or thing they way you do. Rationalization – manipulation of the truth, a filtered lens, makes things “ok” and more acceptable. Displacement – transferred feelings to an unrelated person or object. Boss is a jerk, but instead of throttling him, go home and kick the cat. Humor – unlike others – decreases pain and increases pleasure. Most advanced of all defense mechanisms

Sigmund Freud In Freud’s opinion, there is a constant instinctual tension between body and mind as the mind attempts to cater to the biological and physiological impulses in socially acceptable ways. This internal tension can be decreased, but because of the power of human instincts, it is never fully extinguished. Ego – is identity. Anything that attacks the integrity of our identity and perceptions of self-worth will trigger stress response. ID – biological and physiological impulses – aim to satisfy body’s immediate needs.

Sigmund Freud’s egg metaphor Id Mind’s innermost thoughts, memories, and feelings, are the components that make up one’s identity – and those are the things compared to the contents of an egg. Like an egg, the human psyche is extremely delicate and fragile. And like an egg, it is enclosed and protected by a sturdy yet quite vulnerable shell. Primary purpose of ego is to seek pleasure and avoid pain. Ego is primarily responsible for controlling flood of impulses from the id. Ego is also vulnerable to perceptions of outside stimuli which threaten stability of contents within. Stress or anxiety is aroused by both internal impulses and perceived outside threats – means that protection of the ego (identity) is critical to survival.

Carl Gustav Jung Freud’s protégé Midlife crisis Synchronicity Archetypes Shadow Iceberg Dreams

Carl Gustav Jung Jung theorized human personality as a process of self-discovery and realization, a concept he referred to as individuation. Individuation involves not only the culmination of childhood experiences but a spiritual life force that shapes one’s being and life direction. Individuation – human personality is a process of self-discovery and realization. Psychological health – ability to soul-search, to wrestle with personal issues, to further the understanding of one’s life purpose. Stress is associated with underutilized inner resources – reluctance, avoidance, indolence, self-ignorance. DREAMS – are a means to enhance the individuation process.

Carl Gustav Jung Jung also suggested that there is a certain level of innate tension, psychic tension, which exists due to the language barrier between the conscious and unconscious minds. Individuation can reduce this tension through a continual soul searching that builds a bridge of understanding between the conscious and unconscious mind. ICEBERG theory – conscious mind is represented by the tip above the water, while the unconscious, the greatest percentage of the mind, lies below the water. Personal unconscious – repository of the thoughts, perceptions, feelings, and memories of the individual. Collective unconscious – inexhaustible reservoir of human thoughts and ideas integrated with ancient wisdom (archetypes). Conscious mind – linear, rational, analytical, verbal Unconscious – nonlinear, irrational, intuitive, non-time oriented – dreams and symbols. Stress -- from tensions between the seemingly incompatible thought processes of the two minds. Psychic equilibrium – unity of conscious and unconscious thought processes Active imagination – individual uses creativity to manipulate dream fragments and complete the dream experience.

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (the death of unmet expectations) Kubler-Ross believed that stress can be aroused through the death of unmet expectations, which produces a series of mental processes. These processes are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Resolution of emotional baggage leads one to the final stage, acceptance, which enhances inner peace. Denial – refusal to accept the truth of a situation, or a rejection of the truth. Anger – fit of rage – to doctors, family, God, others. “Why Me?” Bargaining – agreement between soul and conscious mind – negotiation for more time… If.. Then…. Depression – reactive depression (grieving from physical loss); preparatory loss (freedom, family, time, life); very little perceived hope. Acceptance – not giving in or giving up. Just recognition of this is the way it is. (NOT approval!) Give self quality alone time – recognize and deal with unresolved feelings.

Viktor Frankl (a search for the meaning of life) Frankl’s psychological theories center around the concept of human pain and the meaning of suffering. Frankl believed that for life to be complete there must be suffering, but that there must also be a search for the meaning of the suffering to resolve the issues of emotional stress. The last human freedom – the ability to choose one’s attitude in a given set of circumstances.

Viktor Frankl (a search for the meaning of life) Logotherapy Tragic optimism Noo-dynamics “Spirituality” Logotherapy – existential analysis defined as a search for the meaning of life. Tragic optimism – ability to turn suffering into a meaningful experience, and to learn from this experience with a positive perspective on life’s events. Each person must find his or her own unique meaning, not a universal one, not adopted or borrowed from others. EX: Woman with ovarian cancer – daughter in abusive marriage. Noo-dynamics – a process to resolve existential vacuum (a lack of tension or boredom) by using the tension of boredom to search for life’s meaning. So, what happened, happened. Now what” Where are you going now? Spirituality – less of a formal-religious connotation; it refers to the human dimension of inner balance between faith in self-reliance and individual will.

Wayne Dyer (guilt and worry) Dyer believes that guilt and worry are associated with virtually every stressor perceived by people in America. Guilt is an expression of self-anger; worry, a manifestation of fear.

Wayne Dyer (guilt and worry) Guilt and worry immobilize the thought processes, distract one from the present moment, and thus make one unable to conquer stress and attain inner peace. Guilt – a form of “should-haves” We should all over ourselves.

Wayne Dyer (guilt and worry) Erroneous Zones Left-over guilt Self-imposed guilt “The art of worrying” Erroneous Zones – book describes that past or future diminishes our appreciation of the present. Two unproductive emotions are guilt and worry. Left-over guilt –thought patterns from childhood, usually shame, for certain behaviors. Still trying to seek approval to avoid guilt and shame. Self-imposed guilt – put on self when violating a personal value system. The art of worrying – immobilizing … Worry about things we have no control over. Two kinds of worry: those we can do something about (do it and get rid of the worry) and those we can’t do anything about (if we can’t do anything about them, why worry?)

Leo Buscaglia (the lessons of self-love) Buscaglia believes that love is a response to a learned group of stimuli and behaviors; it is not innate, but taught. Buscaglia believes there are many degrees of love, from joy to grace, but there is only one love, that which leads to the positive growth process of self-discovery. To love others, you mush first love yourself. True?

Leo Buscaglia (the lessons of self-love) Chronic stress and low self-esteem Self-love and the X-factor Self-love and self-acceptance Self-esteem is critical to stress response. Constantly “not liking myself because …” creates negative-feedback system leading to lifetime of unhappiness. X-factor – a prized quality that makes each person special and unique. Self acceptance: Take an honest look at self – accept qualities you cannot change, enhance qualities that will help you reach potential. Focus on individual characteristics rather than conformity by comparing self to others

Abraham Maslow (the art of self-actualization) Maslow developed a humanistic approach to psychology that placed emphasis on personality traits, those reflections of inner resources that seem to help people cope with stress and achieve psychological health. Maslow’s theory of motivation suggests that humans operate on a hierarchy of needs that influence behavior.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs 1. Physiological needs 2. Safety needs 3. Belongingness and love 4. Need for self-esteem 5. Self-actualization Self-actualized people: A highly efficient perception of reality. Acceptance (of self). Naturalness and spontaneity (comfortable with self) Problem centering (have many “tools”) Solitude and independence (alone-time) Continual freshness of appreciation (nothing for granted) Creativity (originality, energy) Interpersonal relationships (selective, special) Human kinship (help human race) Democratic character (learn from everyone) Strong sense of ethical values (own terms for right/wrong) Resistance to enculturalization (directed by own nature) Sense of humor (appreciate ironies, playful) Mystical or peak sensations (spiritual orgasm) Evolving through human experiences……