Psychology: Psychological Stress Responses

Psychological Determinants of a Stress Response

- prior experience with stressors and stress response
- attitudes
- motivation
- level of self-esteem
- perception of how much control we have over a stressful event
- general outlook on life
- personality characteristics
- coping skills

Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Model of Stress and Coping

Proposes that stress involves a transaction between an individual and their external environment, and that a stress response depends on the individual's appraisal of the stressor in relation to its relevance to their wellbeing and their ability to cope with it.

Two Key Factors of Lazarus and Folkman's Model of Stress and Coping

- the meaning of the event to the individual and its relevance
- the individual's judgement of their ability to cope with it

Transaction

An encounter between an individual and their environment. It's considered a transaction as stress is not the result of the individual alone or the environment alone. The environment can influence the individual and vice-versa, therefore resulting in stress.

Appraisal

An individual's evaluation of whether or not they have the resources to deal with the stressor. If they do not have the resources to deal with the stressor, a stress response occurs.

Stress Response

An imbalance between the appraisal of demands of a situation and the estimation of ability to meet said demands.

Sequence of the Lazarus and Folkman Model

- stressor
- primary appraisal
- irrelevant, stressful, benign-positive
- harm/loss, threat, challenge
- secondary appraisal
- coping resources are inadequate, coping resources are adequate
- stress

Primary Appraisal

An initial interpretation regarding if the event has any relevance to the individual. The three outcomes of primary appraisals include: irrelevant, stressful, benign-positive. If it is regarded as stressful, the following outcomes include: harm/loss, threat, challenge.

Harm/loss

A further appraisal of a stressor that has caused some damage to the individual (e.g. I have lost my job).

Threat

A further appraisal of a stressor that has not caused damage, but may have consequences in the future (e.g. I might not be able to afford rent).

Challenge

A further appraisal of a stressor that assesses the stressor as potential for personal gain or growth from the situation.

Secondary Appraisal

Evaluating our ability or resources to overcome a stressor. This includes the evaluation of our coping options and resources for dealing with the event. Coping mechanisms can be internal and external. If coping resources are inadequate, a negative stress response occurs.

Internal Coping Mechanisms

Strength and determination

External Coping Mechanisms

Money and support from friends and family

Strengths of Lazarus and Folkman's Model

- focuses on psychological determinants
- emphasises the personal nature and individuality of the stress response
- explains why individuals respond differently to stressors

Limitations of Lazarus and Folkman's Model

- difficult to test through experimental research
- we can experience a stress response without appraisal
- overlooks physiological responses to stressors

Coping

The process of involving cognitive and behavioural efforts to manage specific internal/external stressors that are appraised as taxing or exceeding in resources of the person.

Context-Specific Effectiveness

When there is a match or 'good fit' between the coping strategy used and the stressful situation.

Coping Strategy

A specific method that can be behavioural or psychological, that people use to manage or reduce stress produced from a stressor.

Coping Flexibility

The ability to effectively modify or adjust one's coping strategies according to the demands of different stressful situations.

High Coping Flexibility

Individuals with high coping flexibility readily adjust their coping strategies if a particular strategy they are using is proving to be ineffective.

Low Coping Flexibility

In contrast, individuals with low coping flexibility consistently use the same type of coping strategies across different stressful situations, and persist in their use of the coping strategies they deploy, even in the face of ineffectiveness.

Approach Strategies

Involve efforts to confront a stressor and deal directly with it and its effects. Activity is focused towards the stressor, its causes and a solution that will address the underlying problem, issue or concern and minimise or eliminate its impact.

Avoidance Strategies

Involve efforts that evade a stressor and deal indirectly with it and its effects. Activity is focused away from the stressor and there is no attempt to actively confront the stressor and its causes.