Stress as a psychological process KKDP8

Question 1

Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping:

Answer 1

Proposes that stress involves an encounter (‘transaction’) between an individual and their external environment, and that a stress response depends upon the individual’s interpretation (‘appraisal’) of the stressor and their ability to cope with it.

Question 2

Primary Appraisal:

Answer 2

The evaluation or judgement of a situation

Question 3

Harm/Loss:

Answer 3

An assessment of how much damage has already occurred.

Question 4

Threat:

Answer 4

An assessment of harm/loss that can occur in the future

Question 5

Challenge:

Answer 5

An assessment of the potential for personal gain or growth from the situation

Question 6

Secondary Appraisal:

Answer 6

Our evaluation of our coping options and resources and our options with dealing with the event.

Question 7

Strengths of the Transactional Model:

Answer 7

Focuses on the psychological influences on how we react to a stressor, emphasises the individuality of the human stress response.
Explains why different individuals respond in different ways to the same stressor.

Question 8

Weaknesses of the Transactional Model:

Answer 8

Difficult to test through experimental research

Can overlook physiological responses to stressors.