Coping with Stress Within Our Lives
Whether caused by a job termination or simple day-to-day traffic, stress is seen daily in the human life. While it is possible for every person to be affected by stress, the outcomes are clearly different for each individual. Personality differences also can cause stressors to vary between persons. While stress is inevitable within lives and has the potential to affect individuals physically, psychological research has shown that it is also possible to cope with. One of the most difficult aspects of stress is simply the definition. Taylor (1999) defines stress as “a negative emotional experience accompanied by predictable biochemical, physiological, cognitive, and behavioral changes that are directed either toward altering the stressful event or accommodating to its effect” (p. 168). Simply stated, stress how a person’s body reacts to a negative occurrence within their life. Pitts and Phillips (1991) speak of stress as an independent variable, while the changes within behavior would be considered the dependant variable (p. 30). Sheridan and Radmacher (1992) write that stress may be described as either a stimulus or a response depending on how one views the situation (p. 148).
Many sources agree that stress affects each and every person differently. Within a stressful situation, an individual evaluates a situation and chooses an appropriate response. It is possible for two individuals to choose completely different reactions to similar stressors. Clearly, each individual has a different relationship with their environment and various resources to deal with events, therefore would respond differently. In order to try to further define the term stress and understand individual responses, it is extremely important to look at the causes of stress. In order to differentiate between the cause and effect, Selye used the term stressor to describe the event involved (Sheridan & Radmacher, 1992, p. 149). While many events have the prospective to be considered stressful,
Many sources agree that stress affects each and every person differently. Within a stressful situation, an individual evaluates a situation and chooses an appropriate response. It is possible for two individuals to choose completely different reactions to similar stressors. Clearly, each individual has a different relationship with their environment and various resources to deal with events, therefore would respond differently. In order to try to further define the term stress and understand individual responses, it is extremely important to look at the causes of stress. In order to differentiate between the cause and effect, Selye used the term stressor to describe the event involved (Sheridan & Radmacher, 1992, p. 149). While many events have the prospective to be considered stressful,
Cited: Sheridan, Charles L., Radmacher, Sally A. (1992). Health Psychology: Challenging the Biomedical Model. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Pitts, Marian, Phillips, Keith. (1991). The Psychology of Health: an Introduction. London: Routledge. Taylor, Shelley E. (1999). Health Psychology. Singapore: McGraw-Hill.