Importance of This CourseImportance of This Course

• STRESS is everywhere!STRESS is everywhere!

• Managing stress is crucialManaging stress is crucial

• Stress affects everyone differentlyStress affects everyone differently

• Stress is here to stayStress is here to stay

What Is What Is Stress?Stress?

DefinitionsDefinitions

• Richard LazarusRichard Lazarus– A state of anxiety produced when A state of anxiety produced when

events and responsibilities exceed events and responsibilities exceed one’s coping abilitiesone’s coping abilities

DefinitionsDefinitions

• Hans Selye Hans Selye – Stress is the nonspecific response of Stress is the nonspecific response of

the body to any demand placed the body to any demand placed upon it to adapt, whether that upon it to adapt, whether that demand produces pleasure or pain. demand produces pleasure or pain.

DefinitionsDefinitions

• Fight or Flight (Walter Cannon) Fight or Flight (Walter Cannon) – When confronted When confronted with a with a

perceived stress, the body reacts perceived stress, the body reacts physiologically to either ‘fight’ or physiologically to either ‘fight’ or

‘flight,’ meaning run away. ‘flight,’ meaning run away.

Stress and AnxietyStress and Anxiety

• StressStress– Identifiable causeIdentifiable cause– ConsciousConscious

• AnxietyAnxiety– Cause is less Cause is less

obviousobvious– UnconsciousUnconscious

A Model of StressA Model of StressLife SituationLife Situation

Cognitive AppraisalCognitive Appraisal

Emotional ArousalEmotional Arousal

Physiological ArousalPhysiological Arousal

ConsequencesConsequences

Harmful Effects of StressHarmful Effects of Stress

• Inhibited social Inhibited social functioningfunctioning

• Negative Negative psychological psychological effectseffects

• Academic Academic consequencesconsequences

• Physical health Physical health problemsproblems

• Hindered job Hindered job performanceperformance

• Decreased spiritual Decreased spiritual growthgrowth

• Emotional Emotional consequencesconsequences

• Inhibited Inhibited performance when performance when not managednot managed

• Poor decision-makingPoor decision-making• Decreases your sex Decreases your sex

drivedrive

Benefits of StressBenefits of Stress

• MotivationMotivation

• ExcitementExcitement

• Personal growthPersonal growth

• Warns us to slow downWarns us to slow down

• Appreciation of relaxationAppreciation of relaxation

• Physiological arousal in times of crisisPhysiological arousal in times of crisis

• Maximal performance when under controlMaximal performance when under control

Good Stress, Bad StressGood Stress, Bad Stress

• EustressEustress

• NeustressNeustress

• DistressDistress– Chronic stressChronic stress– Acute stressAcute stress

The Yerkes-Dodson The Yerkes-Dodson PrinciplePrinciple

Maximal Performance

StressorsStressors

• EnvironmentEnvironment

• PsychologicalPsychological

• SocialSocial

• InterpersonalInterpersonal

• Life transitionsLife transitions

• TechnologyTechnology

• DevelopmentalDevelopmental

• PhobiasPhobias