Module 2 Flashcards
A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances. It is also a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and disease. It is a reaction of the mind and body to a stimulus that disturbs the well-being, state of calm, or equilibrium of a person
Stress
Two types of stress
- Eustress
* Distress
Stress that can challenge and motivate a person to find creative solutions to his/her concerns
Eustress
Stress that becomes so overwhelming and leads to a sense of helplessness and exhaustion
Distress
A chemical or biological agent, environmental condition, external stimulus, or an event that causes stress to an organism
Stressor
Two types of stressors
- External stressors
* Internal stressors
Include changes in temperature (heat or cold) and stressful psychological environments such as classroom conditions or abusive relationships in school (bullying)
External stressors
Include physical ailments such as infection or inflammation and psychological problems such as worrying about something
Internal stressors
These types of stress can motivate, energize, and spur an individual into fruitful action. Examples: speaking in front of an audience, stage performers, competing in sports
Healthy stress
Involves managing difficult situations, exerting efforts to solve your problems, and striving to master or reduce the stressful effects of these situations
Coping
Responding in an emotional way; using of Defense Mechanisms
Emotion Focused Coping
Encountering failure or frustration in some sphere of activity, one overemphasizes another. The term is also applied to the process of over-correcting for a handicap or limitation. Example: A physically unattractive adolescent becomes an expert dancer
Compensation
A refusal to acknowledge some threat - a threat that may take the form of distressing feelings or concrete danger. It is also failing to recognize obvious implications or consequences of a thought, act, or situation.
Example: Persons living near a volcano disregard the dangers involved
Denial
A change in the object by which an instinctual drive is to be satisfied; shifting the emotional component from one object or idea to another. Example: A woman is abandoned by hear fiancé. She quickly finds another man about whom she develops the same feelings
Displacement
The individual deals with emotional conflict or external stressors by emphasizing the amusing or ironic aspects of the conflict or stressors
Humor
The unconscious modeling of one’s self upon another person. One may also identify with values and attitudes of a group.
Example: A resident physician assumes a similar mode of dress and manner with patients
Identification
The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by the excessive use of abstract thinking or the making of generalizations to control or minimize disturbing feelings.
Example: A person who has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness might focus on learning everything about the disease in order to avoid distress and remain distant from the reality of the situation
Intellectualization
The splitting-off of the emotional components from a thought.
Isolation
Attributing one’s thoughts or impulses to another person. In common use, this is limited to unacceptable or undesirable impulses.
Example: A man, unable to accept that he has competitive or hostile feelings about an acquaintance, says, “He doesn’t like me.”
Projection
Offering a socially acceptable and apparently more or less logical explanation for an act or decision actually produced by unconscious impulses. Example: A man buys a new car, having convinced himself that his order car won’t make it through the winter
Rationalization
When good fortune fails to knock at the door or knock at a neighbor’s instead.
Example: A person after failing to get into a law school may justify himself by saying: “I would have hated being a lawyer anyway.”
Sour-grapes
Plausible explanations make unpleasant happenings more palatable.
Example: “So, I didn’t get into law school, but now I can really focus on finding my true vocation.”
Sweet lemon
Going to the opposite extreme; overcompensation for unacceptable impulses.
Example: A man violently dislikes an employee. Without being aware of doing so, he “bends over backwards” to not criticize the employee and gives him special privileges and advances
Reaction Formation
You revert back to an earlier level of development and earlier, less demanding behaviors, as a way of protecting yourself from having to confront the actual situation.
Example: Having an argument with your partner, and instead of using conflict resolution tools, you stomp off, slam the door and give your partner the cold shoulder
Regression
The involuntary exclusion of a painful or conflictual thought, impulse, or memory from awareness. This is the primary ego defense mechanism. This is often the case with child abuse or other traumatic experiences that occured early on in our development.
Repression
Occurs when you transform your conflicted emotions, unmet desires or unacceptable impulses into productive outlets.
Example: It’s the situation where you have a stressful day at work, so you go on a long run to cool off
Sublimation
An act or communication which partially negates a previous one.
Example: Two close friends have a violent argument. When they next meet, each act as if the disagreement had never occured
Undoing
Our levels of stress will decrease as we remove the cause of the frustration
Problem-focused coping
Ignoring a problem and hoping that it will disappear on its own
Avoidant coping
First aid in emotionally wrought and stressful situations, such as eating comfort food, deep breathing, relaxing your muscles, engaging in physical activities that may help you calm down
Relaxers
