Selye’s GAS
1) Alarm Reaction
2) Resistance Stage – Body maintains a heightened state of physical activity (Immunosupression)
3) Exhaustion Stage – Body becomes unable to maintain heightened activity and things start to go wrong = ‘Disease of Adaptation’ (Stress-related illness)
Research
- Kiecolt-Glaser = Medical students = Natural killer cell activity. More stress, the less natural killer cell activity.
- A researcher = ‘High stress’ group caring for a relation with Alzheimers compared with a low stress group. Scar tissue took an average 9 days longer to form in high-stress group.
- Another researcher = sIgA help defends us against influenza. Lower levels in high stress groups.
Coping Strategies
Cognitive/behavioural efforts to manage demands that are perceived as taxing or exceeding our resources.
Problem focussed coping strategies (PF)
Emotion focussed coping strategies (EF)
Problem Focussed
Also known as optimistic strategies or coping mechanisms
These aim to deal constructively with a stressor in order to wither reduce it or terminate it.
Examples:
· Seeking information about the stressor
· Using social support systems
· Formulating a plan of action (logical analysis)
· Implementing the plan of action
Emotion Focussed
Also known as pessimistic strategies or ego defence mechanisms
They don’t deal constructively with the stressor and so whilst they might be effective in the short them, they are ineffective in the long term
Frequently used behavioural therapy is going to the pub
Cognitive strategies involved distorting reality in some way so as to deal with the stressor
Displacement:
Directing anger towards a readily available target
Denial:
Refusing to accept that something is the case
Regression:
Returning to an earlier stage of development when a behaviour reduced stress
Rationalisation:
Justifying ones behaviour or failures by plausible or socially acceptable reasons in place of a real reason
Repression:
Burying a memory deep within the ‘unconscious’ so that it is ‘forgotten’
Most people use a combination of PF and EF strategies
People only have problems when they rely exclusively on EF strategies
As a rule:
PF strategies are effective when the stressor is judged to be changeable.
EF Strategies are effective when the stressor is judged to be unchangeable
Workplace Stressors
· Quantitative work overload or underload
· Qualitative work overload or underload
· Role ambiguity
· Role conflict
· Job security
· Lack of a career structure
· Interpersonal relationships (e.g. Bullying)
· Degree of latitude
· Degree of control
Friedman and Rosenman believed CHD was most strongly linked to diet. Research focussed on job-related stress, and the idea that personality may influence the likelihood of developing CHD. Conducted lengthy interviews with employees with CHD and employees without CHD.
Two personality types:
Type A
Non-Type A (Type B)
Type A:
Very competitive
Would like to rapidly advance in a career
Very fast at doing things
Feel uneasy if waiting – Impatient
Always in a hurry
Hostile to the outside world
Highly self critical
Friedman and Rosenman
-To test the hypothesis that Type A personality is correlated with the development of CHD
-Type A more likely to develop CHD
