Stress & Health Chapter 17

Stress Is any circumstance (real or perceived) that threatens a person’s well-being. It is a process by which we appraise and cope with environmental threats and challenges. When short-lived or taken as a challenge, stress has positive effects. Yerkes-Dodson Law

Types of Stress Frustration Conflict Change Pressure Pursuit of a goal is hindered. I want to watch New Girl and the cable is out… again. Two accidents on the Turnpike are going to make me late for work. Conflict Two or more motivations compete. Approach-Approach Approach-Avoidance Avoidance-Avoidance Change Noticeable alterations in life that require readjustment. Divorce, marriage, new baby, new job, promotion, new school… Pressure Expectations or demands for behavior. You have to get straight A’s or else you won’t be happy. You have to pass the AP exam or else Mrs. Calle Tanner will hunt you down and… (no pressure…)

Conflict Approach-approach conflict Avoidance-avoidance conflict Two attractive options Avoidance-avoidance conflict Two unattractive options Approach-avoidance conflict Two options, both with attractive and unattractive options Multiple approach-avoidance conflicts Multiple options, all with attractive and unattractive options

Regular Exposure to Stress Chronic Exposure to Stress Biology of Stress Regular Exposure to Stress Chronic Exposure to Stress Increased body fat Increased appetite Muscle & bone density loss Immune-system impairment Brain shrinkage Impaired memory functions Severe fatigue Reduced sex drive Heart disease Strokes Lung disease Cancer Stress triggers our fight-or-flight response to aid in our survival. It also triggers the release of certain hormones. Cortisol (the stress hormone) Normally maintains blood pressure and limits inflammation, but…

Seyle’s General Adaptation Syndrome Describes our response to any stressful event. Three stages Alarm Resistance Exhaustion Mnemonic: A.R.E. you out of G.A.S.?

Personality Types & Stress Type A Type B competitive, hard-driving, impatient, verbally aggressive, and anger-prone people more likely to develop heart disease easy-going, relaxed people less likely to develop heart disease

Burnout Physical and emotional exhaustion, cynicism, lowered sense of self-efficacy that can be brought on by work related stress.

Internal Locus of Control External Locus of Control Coping With Stress Internal Locus of Control External Locus of Control Believe they are in control of their situation, and can change it at any time. Have an optimistic out-look. Better equipped to deal with stressors, have better moods, and stronger immune systems. Believe that everything is out of their hands. Have a pessimistic out-look. Have more stress-related health problems because they are not well-equipped to deal with stress. Prone to suffer from learned helplessness.

Reducing Stress Exercise Eat Right Social support Religious affiliation Social clubs Modify Type A behaviors Change locus of control

Industrial-Organizational Psychology Chapter 14

Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology Applies psychological principles to the workplace. Personnel Psychology Studies the principles of selecting and evaluating workers. Organizational Psychology Studies how work environments and management styles influence worker motivation, satisfaction, and productivity.

Attitudes Towards Work People have different attitudes toward work. Some take it as a: Job: Necessary way to make money. Career: Opportunity to advance from one position to another. Calling: Fulfilling a socially useful activity.

Management Theory Theory X Theory Y Managers believes that employees will work only if rewarded with benefits or threatened with punishment. Think employees are Extrinsically Motivated Managers believe that employees are internally motivated to do good work and policies should encourage this internal motive. Think employees are Intrinsically Motivated

What Motivates Us to Work? Intrinsic Motivators Extrinsic Motivators Rewards we get internally, such as enjoyment or satisfaction. Reward that we get for accomplishments from outside ourselves (grades or money or etc..)