Pressure leads to stress which leads to self-consciousness which distracts focus from the task at hand (aka, people ‘choke’ under pressure) → with limited working memory capacity, worry denies attention the necessary ‘space’ to do its job properly

THE EFFECTS OF STRESS – PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING Chronic stress caused by excessive workloads and/or conflict, lack of control, or underappreciation for effort can lead to burnout → besides both physical and emotional exhaustion, burnout involves cynicism (“This place/you people suck!”) and diminished self- efficacy

THE EFFECTS OF STRESS – PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING Though many other factors may be involved, stress contributes to both everyday psychological problems (insomnia, alcohol abuse, etc.) and more serious disorders (anxiety, PTSD, etc.) → despite the focus on the negative, stress can also be beneficial in terms of increased resilience, positive personal changes, and a greater ability to cope appropriately to stress

THE EFFECTS OF STRESS – PHYSICAL FUNCTIONING Psychosomatic diseases (popularly yet erroneously thought of as ‘imagined’) were once considered a separate category of ailments heavily stress related → today the term is not in much in use due to the understanding that stress plays a role in most physical illnesses

The connection between heart disease and psychology is evident in comparing personality types: Type A people are considered competitive, impatient, and hostile; Type B, not so much → a modest correlation exists with heart disease and Type A folk, but is much stronger when focusing on the anger component

Studies have shown that people with depressive disorders are at significant higher risk of cardiac events, whether their heart disease was pre-existing or not → chronic stress can both cause and exacerbate (make worse) depression and heart disease, thus creating a potential feedback loop

Stress may be correlated to numerous illnesses due to its effect on the immune system (correlation strength is generally modest at.2/.3) → stress disrupts immune system functioning, creating an alternate need, but it also increases inflammation, which contributes to many diseases

Studies have linked strong social support networks with greater immune system functioning as well as longevity → the opposite is true: isolation reduces immune system strength and can have even more adverse effects on mortality then obesity, alcoholism, and smoking

Optimists – who are more likely to engage in problem-focused coping, to seek and find social support, and to frame stressors more positively – are more likely to live healthier and longer lives → another personality trait predictor of health and longevity is conscientiousness