Stress and conflict

WHAT IS STRESS? An event that produces tension or worry A person’s physical or psychological response to such an event A person’s perception of the event

WHAT IS STRESS? A STRESSOR is the stress-producing event or situation Therefore, we can define stress as a person’s internal reactions, whether perceptual, cognitive, or emotional – to a stressor.

SOURCES OF STRESS DISTRESS – negative stress from acute anxiety or pressure - can take a harsh toll on the mind and body EUSTRESS – positive strss from the strivings and challenges that are the spice of life

CONFLICT SITUATIONS When we have to make difficult decisions between two or more options APPROACH-APPROACH CONFLICT: When an individual must choose between two attractive alternatives Ex: getting two job offers, each of which are equally attractive

CONFLICT SITUATIONS AVOIDANCE-AVOIDANCE CONFLICT: When an individual must choose between two unattractive alternatives Often forced to pick the “lesser of two evils” Ex: Ms. Thomas must decide to cheer for either Hamilton or Calgary at the Grey Cup – she does not like either team.

CONFLICT SITUATIONS APPROACH-AVOIDANCE CONFLICT: when an individual wants to do something but has fears or doubts or is repulsed by it at the same time Person must find added reasons to choose one alternative over the other Ex: You want to ask your boss for a raise, but know that he might fire you if you do.

CONFLICT SITUATIONS DOUBLE APPRAOCH-AVOIDANCE CONFLICT: The individual must choose between two or more alternatives, each of which has attractive and unattractive aspects Resolved in one of three ways: 1) finding new factors that make one option preferable 2) finding a third alternative 3) choosing one of the alternatives in order to stop having to worry about the problem Ex: Travelling – is expensive and exciting – you could wait and save money to go on a trip, but it might be more expensive in the future.

LIFE CHANGES Holmes & Rahe (1967) – developed a scale to measure the effects of 43 common life events Subjects assigned a value to each event based on how much adjustment each event required Noted that one life change can trigger others, thus greatly increasing the level of stress Events that cause stress for adults and teens are different

WORK 10 MOST STRESSFUL JOBS IN CANADA 10. Nurse Sales Executive 8. Surgeon 7. Courier 6. Long-Haul Truck Driver 5. Fireman 4. Journalist 3. Pilot 2. Doctor 1. Oil Rig Worker

WORK 10 LEAST STRESSFUL JOBS IN CANADA 10. Marketing Manager 9. Bar Manager 8. Accountant 7. Tattoo Artist 6. Hairdresser 5. Charity Worker 4. Secretary 3. Translator 2. Librarian 1. Receptionist

WORK Work can be a prime source of stress On-the-job stress affects the physical and mental health of many employees

WORK WHAT CAUSES STRESS AT WORK? The nature of the job – working conditions, work overload, work underload Role in the organization – unclear expectations, unrealistic demands, responsibility for other people Interpersonal relationships Career development Organizational structure and climate Family and outside activities

EVERYDAY SOURCES OF STRESS FRUSTRATION: the feeling of bafflement or disappointment that results when progress toward a goal is blocked – caused by delays, lack of resources, physical limitations, other people or institutional regulations ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSORS: Noise and crowds – some people have increased stress levels when there excessive, annoying noise and when they feel crowded

REACTIONS TO STRESS When someone encounters a stressor that is intense or prolonged they will react to it. The body reacts with immediate arousal – hormones increase the amount of blood sugar for extra energy, adrenalin causes rapid heartbeat and breathing and allows the body to use energy more quickly Stress reactions can be Physical, Psychological or Behavioral *activity*

REACTION STAGES (SELYE) There are three stages in the body’s reaction to stress: ALARM: the body mobilizes its “fight or flight” defenses – heartbeat and breathing quicken, muscles tense, pupils dilate, hormones that sustain these reactions are secreted RESISTANCE: Individual finds a way to cope with the stressor and to ward off adverse reactions – may enter into denial if stressor persists and they continue to ignore it EXHAUSTION: adrenal and other glands involved in the “fight or flight” response have been taxed to their limit and become unable to secrete the necessary hormones – individual becomes exhausted and even delusional

PSYCHOLOGICAL REACTIONS Anxiety – a feeling of imminent but unclear threat Anger Fear – directs the individual to withdraw or flee Difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly If the stress is prolonged can contribute to the severity of mental illnesses like depression, schizophrenia and anxiety-disorders

BEHAVIORAL REACTIONS Nervous habits (trembling or pacing) Changes in posture Temporary loss of interest in eating, grooming, bathing Escape – leave the situation that is causing stress If the stress is prolonged escape can lead to alcoholism, drug addiction, chronic unemployment, aggression, delinquency and criminal behavior

PHYSICAL REACTIONS Accelerated heart rate Insomnia Migraines Urinary and bowel irregularities Muscle aches Peptic ulcers Hypertension Heart disease

FACTORS INFLUENCING REACTIONS TO STRESS PERSONALITY: your personality may make you more vulnerable to stress Type A person’s body is in a chronic state of stress – they are always prepared for “fight or flight” – always struggling with time, other people, or both

FACTORS INFLUENCING REACTIONS TO STRESS EMOTIONAL EXPRESSIVENESS: People who neither express nor admit to strong feelings (despair, depression and anger) are more likely to develop cancer than those who can vent their emotions

FACTORS INFLUENCING REACTIONS TO STRESS PERCEIVED CONTROL OVER STRESSORS: When people believe they can control what is stressful and what is not, they are less affected by stress Physical disorders are more likely when we do not have control over stressors

FACTORS INFLUENCING REACTIONS TO STRESS SOCIAL SUPPORT: Information that leads someone to believe that he or she is cared for, loved, respected and part of a network of communication and mutual obligation Social groups offer 4 kinds of support: 1)Emotional 2)Appraisal (sorting out and understanding sources of stress) 3)Informational (evaluating how one deals with stress) 4)Instrumental (direct help such as money or shelter)

FACTORS INFLUENCING REACTIONS TO STRESS AMOUNT OF STRESS: Work overload can lead to job dissatisfaction and cause stress – work under-load can also cause discontent and lead to stress

COPING WITH STRESS Rahe & Arthur (1968):Six stages of stress 1. perception of the situation 2. psychological responses 3. physiological responses 4. protective behavior 5. signs of illness 6. disease Dealing with stress in the first four stages can prevent disease

PSYCHOLOGICAL COPING STRATEGIES Our subconscious and conscious provide tools for us to deal with stress – they are know as DEFENSE MECHANISMS Repression – pushing stressors out of mind Reaction Formation – doing the opposite Displacement – ego redirects drive away from what id wants Sublimation – doing something society values instead Projection – blame someone else Rationalization – thinking logically Regression – retreating to an earlier stage of development

DEFENSE MECHANISMS