Stress, Frustration, & Defense Mechanisms

What is stress? Event that produces worry or tension Event that produces worry or tension Person’s physical or psychological response to such an event Person’s physical or psychological response to such an event Person’s perception of event Person’s perception of event Person’s perception of his or her inability to cope with a certain tense event or situation Person’s perception of his or her inability to cope with a certain tense event or situation

Stressor= the stess producing event or situation Stressor= the stess producing event or situation Stress reaction=body’s and mind response to a stressor Stress reaction=body’s and mind response to a stressor

Types of Stress Distress Distress –Negative stress Eustress Eustress –Positive stress

Conflict Situations Making a decision between 2 or more options Making a decision between 2 or more options 4 categories 4 categories –Approach-approach conflict Choose between 2 attractive alternatives Choose between 2 attractive alternatives –Avoidance- avoidance conflict Choose between 2 unattractive alternatives Choose between 2 unattractive alternatives

–Approach-avoidance conflict Individual wants to do something but fears it at the same time Individual wants to do something but fears it at the same time –Double approach-avoidance conflict Choose between 2 or more alternatives, each of which has attractive and unattractive aspects Choose between 2 or more alternatives, each of which has attractive and unattractive aspects What are some life changes that you can categorize into these conflicts? What are some life changes that you can categorize into these conflicts?

Things that cause stress Life Changes (chart p. 320) Life Changes (chart p. 320) Work Work Environment Environment Frustration Frustration –Feeling of bafflement or disappointment that results when a person’s progress toward a goal is blocked.

Reactions to Stress Physiological Reactions Physiological Reactions –Anxiety Feeling of imminent but unclear threat Feeling of imminent but unclear threat –Anger Usually a result from frustration Usually a result from frustration –Fear Danger, fight or flight, panic Danger, fight or flight, panic –Affects on mental health PTSD PTSD

Behavioral Reactions Behavioral Reactions –Short term Nervous habits Nervous habits –Smoking, overeating, tapping pencils –Long term Alcoholism, unemployment,,suicide, personality disorders Alcoholism, unemployment,,suicide, personality disorders

Physical Reaction Physical Reaction –Short term Fight or flight; faster heart beat, blood pressure Fight or flight; faster heart beat, blood pressure –Long term Disease, migraines, Disease, migraines,

Factors Influencing Reactions to Stress Personality types Personality types Type A Type A –Very orderly, time orientated, driven –Body is always under stress, constant flow of adrenalin –Society favors those who are aggressive and achieve success, we in a sense encourage Type A

Type B Type B –Laid back, driven but on their own terms –Body more relaxed –Society sees them as lazy

Perceived Control over Stressors As humans we like stress As humans we like stress Physical disorders are more likely when we do not have control over stressors Physical disorders are more likely when we do not have control over stressors Feedback helps us deal with stress, without we don’t know how we are progressing or digressing = frustration = stress Feedback helps us deal with stress, without we don’t know how we are progressing or digressing = frustration = stress

Coping with Stress Bring it under control before it spirals out of control Bring it under control before it spirals out of control Stress can cause disease Stress can cause disease Six steps of stress causing disease: Six steps of stress causing disease: –Perception of the situation-something is not right –Psychological response-person will deny problem

Six steps continued: Six steps continued: –Physiological response-fight or flight –Protective behavior-person tried to deal with the situation –Signs of illness-person acts sick-stays home from work or school –Frank disease-doctor confirms illness and person is officially sick

Psychological Coping Strategies We first appraise the situation of how bad they are. (Cognitive appraisal) We first appraise the situation of how bad they are. (Cognitive appraisal) Common coping mechanisms: Common coping mechanisms: –Denial –Intellectualization Person views situation from an emotionally detached standpoint Person views situation from an emotionally detached standpoint

Cognitive preparation-mentally preparing yourself for stress Cognitive preparation-mentally preparing yourself for stress Most effective way of dealing with stress Most effective way of dealing with stress Other ways: Other ways: –Progressive relaxation or exercise –Meditation, support groups, training –Depressants (obviously not a good choice) –biofeedback

Defense Mechanism Defense Mechanism are ways the brain deals with stress. Defense Mechanism are ways the brain deals with stress. We don’t want to feel as if we wont succeed or not in control. We don’t want to feel as if we wont succeed or not in control. Repression Repression –Pushing painful memories or unacceptable thoughts and motives that causes the ego too much anxiety

Projection Projection –Inner feelings are thrown outside –Saying that people don’t like you, when in reality you may not like yourself. Reaction formation Reaction formation –Involves replacing an unacceptable feeling or urge with its opposite –Women who are very strong but lessen their power to please the men in her life

Regression Regression –Going back to an earlier and less mature pattern of behavior, usually when under a lot of pressure, act in ways that worked for them before –Throwing temper tantrums

Displacement Displacement –Occurs when the object of an unconscious wish provokes anxiety –Wanting to hit your father out of anger but hit your brother instead