Stress:is any set of circumstances that threaten or perceived to threaten one’s well-being and thereby tax

one’s coping ability.

• Stress is an every day event

• Routine hassles may produce significant negative effects

• Stressful events probably have a cumulative impact

• Appraisal of stress is subjective

Appraisal of Stress

Primary Appraisal is an initial evaluation of whether an event is:

1. irrelevant to you

2. relevant, but not threatening

3. stressful

Appraisal of Stress

When an event is viewed as stressful, you’re likely to make

a Secondary Appraisal.

A secondary appraisal is an evaluation of your coping resources and options for dealing with the stress

Key Factors in the Appraisal of Stress

Familiarity:– involves familiarity with stressful

demands of a situation– the more unfamiliar with a

stressful event, the more threatened you are likely to feel

Controlability:– involves how much control you

have over the event– Research suggest that when

events are seen as controlable, they tend to be less stressful

Key Factors in the Appraisal of Stress

Predictability:– involves your ability to predict a

stressful event– Researh indicates that people

generally prefer stressful events they can predict

– is effected by whether or not you can do any thing about the stressful event

Imminence:– involves the closenessin time of an

upcoming event– Stress generally increases as event

becomes imminent

Major Types of Stress

• Frustration occurs in any situation in which the pursuit of some goals is thwarted

• Life Changes are any noticeable alterations in one’s living circumstance that require adjustment

• Pressure involves expectations or demands that one behave in certain way

-pressure to perform

-pressure to conform

Major Types of Stress

• Conflict occurs when two or more incompatible motivations or behavioral impulses compete for expressions.

-Approach-approach conflict occurs when a choice must be made between to attractive choices.

-Avoidance-avoidance conflict occurs when a choice must be made between two unattractive goals.

-Approach-avoidance occurs when a choice must made about whether to pursue a single goal that has both attractive and unattractive aspects.