Workplace Emotions, Attitudes, and Stress

Workplace Emotions, Attitudes, and Stress

Understanding Emotions

• Psychological, behavioral, and physiological reactions to objects, people, or events
• Characteristics of Emotions:
  • Brief, primarily nonconscious experiences
  • Motivates actions
  • Cultural differences in emotional expression

Difference Between Attitudes and Emotions

• Attitudes:
  • Cluster of beliefs and feelings, more stable over time
  • Involves conscious judgments
• Emotions:
  • Brief episodes, often nonconscious

Emotional Labour

• Managing emotions to fulfill job requirements, especially in interpersonal roles
  • Surface acting: Faking emotions (e.g., forced smiles)
  • Deep acting: Actually feeling the expected emotions
• High emotional labour can lead to stress and exhaustion

Emotional Intelligence

• Ability to recognize, understand, and regulate emotions in oneself and others

Work-related Attitudes: Job Satisfaction

• General attitude toward one's job
• High job satisfaction leads to:
  • Better job performance
  • Lower turnover
  • Enhanced customer satisfaction

Job Dissatisfaction (EVLN Model)

• Exit: Leaving the organization
• Voice: Constructive attempts to improve the situation
• Neglect: Allowing conditions to deteriorate
• Loyalty: Patiently waiting for improvement

Work-related Attitudes: Organizational Commitment

• Identification with the organization and a desire to stay
• Types:
  • Continuance: High costs of leaving
  • Normative: Moral obligation to the organization
  • Affective: Emotional attachment

Stress Overview

• Adaptive response to perceived threats
• Distress: Uncomfortable stress leading to harm
• Eustress: Positive, motivating stress

Stress Experience Model

• Three stages:
  1. Alarm reaction
  2. Resistance
  3. Exhaustion

Individual Differences in Stress Experiences

• Factors reducing stress:
  • Good physical health
  • Favorable personality traits (e.g., low neuroticism)
  • Positive self-concept
  • Ability to disconnect from work

Common Workplace Stressors

• Role ambiguity
• Dysfunctional conflicts
• Work overload
• Toxic work environments
• Bullying and harassment

Managing Work-related Stress

• Strategies:
  • Gratitude journaling
  • Building relationships
  • Cognitive reframing
  • Mindfulness practices
  • Exercise and recreation
  • Setting boundaries and time management
  • Nature walks
  • Hobbies