1. Psychology: An Introduction
Chapter 14
Stress
2008 McGraw-Hill Co., Inc. All rights reserved

2. Class Overview
Complete Stress Scale
Identify the Various Types of Stressors
Understanding Stress Reactions
Coping with Stress
Class Activity

3. Stress Scale Activity
How many of you think stress can cause illnesses?

4. Identify the Various Types of Stressors
What is Stress?

5. Identify the Various Types of Stressors
What is Stress?
Stress is your body’s response to changes in your daily life.

6. Identify the Various Types of Stressors
There are two kinds of stressors
Eustress
Distress

7. Identify the Various Types of Stressors
Eustress (positive stress)
A healthful response to a stressor that produces a positive result
Motivates, focuses energy
Short term
Is perceived as within our coping abilities
Feels exciting
Improves Performance

8. Identify the Various Types of Stressors
Distress (negative stress)
A harmful response to a stressor that produces a negative result
Causes anxiety or concern
Can be short or long term
Feels unpleasant
Can lead to mental and physical problems

9. Identify the Various Types of Stressors
Sources of Stress
Life events
Violence, war, and sexual assault
Loss of a family member
Natural disasters
Terrorism
Daily hassles
Positive life events

10. Identify the Various Types of Stressors
Sources of Stress
Frustration
Conflict
Approach- approach conflict
Avoidance- avoidance conflict
Approach- avoidance conflict
Multiple approach- avoidance conflict

11. Identify the Various Types of Stressors
Sources of Stress
Environmental Conditions
Air Pollution
Scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health and the Boston University School of Medicine concluded that as air pollution increased, perceived stress levels of study participants also increased.
Noise
Humidity
Riots
Weather

12. Understanding Stress Reactions
General Aspects of Stress Reactions
We react to stress as a whole
Psychological and bodily reactions are highly similar whether the stress is physical or psychological
Combination of anxiety, depression, anger and irritability
Changes in appetite for food and interest in sex
Difficulty concentrating

13. Understanding Stress Reactions
Physical reaction to stress and health
The General Adaptation Syndrome
Alarm Reaction
Resistance Stage
Exhaustion Stage

14. Understanding Stress Reactions

15. Understanding Stress Reactions
Factors that influence reactions to stress
Prior experience of the stress
Age
Predictability and control
Social support
Someone to talk to
Receiving advice and solace

16. Understanding Stress Reactions
Person variables in reactions to stress
Cognitive factors in stress reactions
Intelligences and stress
Appraisals of stress

17. Understanding Stress Reactions
Person variables in reactions to stress
Personality characteristics and stress reactions
type A personality:
Competitive
Rushing
Workaholic
Speaks loudly or “explosively”
Perfectionistic or demanding
Hostile and aggressive

18. Understanding Stress Reactions
Person variables in reactions to stress
Personality characteristics and stress reactions
Ethnicity
Minority groups tend to have fewer of the advantages that shield us from stress
Education
Higher Income
Gender differences in response to stress:
Benefits of marriage
Fight-or-flight and tend-and-befriend

19. Coping with Stress Effective Coping Methods:
Removing or reducing stress
Cognitive coping: reappraisal
Managing stress reactions: counseling

20. Coping with Stress Ineffective Coping Methods: Withdrawal Aggression
Self-medication
Defense mechanisms:

21. Coping with Stress

22. Coping with Stress Changing health- related behavior patterns
Learning to Relax
Progressive muscle relaxation exercise
Decreased sympathetic arousal

23. Coping with Stress Changing health- related behavior patterns
Improved eating habits
Weight:
Good Nutrition
Body mass Index

24. Coping with Stress Changing health- related behavior patterns
Improved eating habits
Suggestions for a healthy lifestyle:
Have reasonable goals
Do not “diet”
Eat differently
Do not give up because of lapses
Emphasize exercise
Do not smoke
Comply with medical advice

25. Coping with Stress Healthy ways to manage stress
Participate in Physical Activities
Manage your time (make to- do lists)
Talking with family and friends that you trust
Writing in a journal (helps you express feelings)
Keep a sense of humor
Take a break- do something for yourself
Perform relaxation techniques (deep-breathing and imagery)

26. Class Activity
Read article on shared stress