4D A psychological model of stress

Question 1

What does a persons perception of a stressor depend on

Answer 1

• their appraisal of the situation (significance and how it may affect wellbeing)
• coping skills

Question 2

Transactional Model of Stress and Coping

Answer 2

• model that suggests a stress response is only activated if an event is perceived to exeed our ability to cope and is based on our appraisal of the situation
• developed and has been refined by psychologists Richard Lazarus and Susan Folkman

Question 3

Primary appraisal

Answer 3

1. individual determines whether the situation or event is significant to them
2. then the even is categorised as either stressful or not stressful
3. if not stressful it will further be categorised as wither benign/positive or irrelevent, but if stressful it will be further categorised as a threat, harm/loss or challenge

Question 4

Secondary appraisal

Answer 4

if event is stressful, something must be done to manage situation so seconday appraisal occurs

1. individual considers the available resources, as well as coping stratergies to decide how to deal with stressor
2. Coping strategies are either inadequate or adequate
3. inadequate = stress heightened
   adequate = stress minimised or managed

Question 5

Explain the transactional model of stress steps

Answer 5

there is an event/situation
1) is it:
- stressful
- irrelevant = no stress
- benign/positive = no stress

3) if stressful is it:
- harm/loss
- threat
- challenge

4) are coping strategies
- inadequare = stress is heightened
- adequate = stress is minmised or managed

Question 6

What is harm/loss

Answer 6

damage has already occured
(sadness, despair, or anger)

Question 7

What is threat

Answer 7

anticipated harm/loss in the future because of the event
(fear, anxiety, or apprehenion)

Question 8

What is challenge

Answer 8

perceived to have the potential for personal gain or growth
(eagerness, excitment and exhilaration)

Question 9

Strengths of the transactional model of stress

Answer 9

• acknowledges the psychological determinants or casues of stress response
• emphasises personal nature + individuality of the stress response, accounting for why individual responses to an event vary widely
• suggests that due to environmental factors an individual has an active role in their own stress response and can learn to respond and manage it
• allows that stressors and circumstances can change over time and thinking and response to stressors can change

Question 10

Limitations of the transactional model of stress

Answer 10

• difficult to test because of subjectiveness of the individuals response to stress
• individuals might not always be aware of all factors causing them stress
• doesnt account for biological variations in individuals responses to stress and external factors
• primary and secondary appraisals have been found to interact with one another or occur simultaneously