PSYC 1002 Lecture Notes - Defence Mechanisms, Explanatory Style, Neurogenesis
Document Summary
Stress is defined in the text as any circumstances that threaten or are perceived to threaten one"s well-being and that thereby tax one"s coping ability. Major stressors (single, traumatic events) vs. routine hassles (changes in household responsibilities, reoccurring: cumulative nature of stress (major traumatic event like a divorce or disaster, cognitive appraisals (very subjective and influence the effect of the event) Major types of stress: frustration blocked goal, conflict two or more incompatible motivations (choice) Approach-approach (pizza or spaghetti), approach-avoidance (a choice is made about whether to pursue a goal that has both attractive and unattractive aspects), avoidance-avoidance (two negative goals unemployment or degrading job: change- having to adapt. Holmes and rahe social readjustment rating scale (measures life change, like marriage, as a form of stress) life change units (higher points for more stressful events) A criticism to this approach is that it is subjective: pressure (social) expectations to behave in certain ways.