PSYCHOLOGY

Psychology: Coping Patients with Type A Behaviour

Coping Patients with Type A Behaviour

Introduction

Stress can be defined as any threat, assumed or direct, to well being. In this essay we will focus on the physiological response to a stressor and evaluate ways of coping or managing symptoms since we cannot eliminate stress completely from our lives (Jepson, Forrest, 2006, 183-197).

Patients with defensive coping skills are supplementary likely to reject all responsibility and downplay their conditions in contrast with others, thus constructing it complicated for physicians to establish the severity of the medical condition and inhibiting their ability to counsel patients on possible prevention methods.

Personality characteristics may predispose individuals to experience excessive stress or they may protect against stress. In addition, personality characteristics can help to determine the course that are already in stressful situation. Thus, they may intensify the stress responses or act as a buffer during stressful situations. Personality characteristics can affect how we interpret situations(Jepson, Forrest, 2006, 183-197).

Consciously or unconsciously, individuals use coping measures in response to stress, in order to reduce its intensity or to overcome stress in general. Thus, the concept of personality to cope with stress is particularly important determinant of the general thrust of his / her health.

Stress inoculation training (SIT) is a cognitive therapy and bases it's theories on humanistic i.e., client centred, and behavioural psychology. SIT is based on the theory that a client's problem may be beyond their control but they can alter the way in which they cope with stressors (Jamal, 2005, 129-137). The therapist and client establish a trusting relationship; the client is then trained to view threats or problems as something to be solved. These can then be restructured. Coping strategies are taught to the client i.e., positive thinking, relaxation, time management and positive affirmations. Imagery, modelling and role play ...