1. Stress and conflict

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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*

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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)

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. DEFENSE MECHANISMS