Stress

What are stressors, and what are some of the most important sources of stress?

The problem with anticipatory stress is that it can affect us psychologically and physically just as strongly as actual stressors do. We classify them (acute, chronic, or anticipatory); stressors come from all aspects of our lives. Let's take a look at four major sources of stress: frustration, internal conflict, change, and pressure.

Frustration

As psychologists use the term, frustration occurs in any situation in which the pursuit of some goal is thwarted. In essence, you experience frustration when you want something, and you cannot have it. Everyone has to deal with frustration virtually every day. Traffic jams, long daily commutes, and annoying drivers. Frustration also leads to aggression; even artificially induced frustration in a laboratory setting can lead to increased aggression from participants. Some frustration, such as failures and losses, can be sources of significant stress.

Internal Conflict

Internal conflict occurs when two or more in compatible motivations or, behavioral impulses complete for expression. Conflicts come in three types these are approach-approach, avoidance-avoidance and approach-avoidance. In an approach-approach conflict, a choice must be made between two desirable goals. In an avoidance-avoidance conflict, a choice must be made between two unattractive goals. In an approach-avoidance conflict, a choice must be made about whether to pursue a single goal that has both attractive and unattractive aspects (Anderson, 98).

What is the life events approach, and what problems are associated with this approach?

The Life-Events Approach

An alternative to the stage-approach to adult development is the life-events approach. In the early version of the life-events approach, life events were viewed as taxing circumstances for individuals, forcing them to change their personality. Such events as the death of a spouse, divorce, marriage, and so on were believed to involve varying degrees of stress, and therefore, likely to influence the individual's development. Today “life-events approach", is more sophisticated. The current life-events approach emphasizes that how life events Influence the individual's development depends not only on the event but also on mediating factors (physical health, family supports. for example), the individual's adaptation to the tile event (appraisal of the threat, coping strategies, for example, the life-stage context, and the socio-historical context).

Consider how the life event of divorce might affect personality. A divorce is likely to be more stressful for Individuals who are in poor health and have little family support One individual may perceive It as highly stressful (less adaptive) rather than a challenge but develop coping strategies to, effectively deal with it (more adaptive). A divorce may be more stressful after many years of manage when adults are in their fifties than when they have only been married several years and are in their twenties (an example of life-stage context). Finally, adults may be able to cope more effectively with divorce today than in the 1950s because divorce has become more commonplace and accepted in today's society (an example of socio-historical context) (Dworkin, 78).

Describe the four patterns of acculturation, noting the level of acculturative stress likely to be produced ...