Theories of stress...studying this stresses me out

The study and understanding of the biological and psychological effects of stress are very important to the field of health psychology as research has shown a direct relationship between stress and diseases such as hypertension or immune deficiency (Baum & Posluszny, 1999). Stress is both a physical and psychological response that is associated with the mental perception of the stress and the physical manner in which stress is responded to by the human body’s glands and the sympathetic portion of the autonomic nervous system (Brannon & Feist, 2004). Brannon and Feist (2004) discuss that there are two major theories of stress and stress response which are Hans Selye’s theory of general adaptation syndrome and Richard Lazarus’s theory which is based on appraising stress.

Selye’s theory of stress, which brought a lot of attention to the relationship between stress and illness, was that the response to a stress would always be the same regardless of the cause of the stress (Brannon & Feist, 2004). Selye’s theory of general adaptation according to Brannon and Feist (2004) consists of three phases which are the alarm reaction (when the sympathetic nervous system is activated), the resistance stage (in which the object of Selye’s study adapts to the source of the stress), and the exhaustion stage (where the organism can no longer keep responding in a phase of resistance and then collapses). As research furthered on this topic in the 1950s and 1960s many scientists began to realize that there was not a constant or dependable effect caused by a stressful situation (Lazarus, 1993). Rather, it seemed that a more cognitive approach was showing a different way to view stress responses.

Lazarus has a different way of interpreting stress responses as he focuses more on how an individual views a stress rather than what exactly is causing the stress (Brannon & Feist, 2004). For example, two people may look at an opportunity to meet new people at a party completely differently. One person may see this as a mild stress as they hope to make a good impression and the other person may see this as a serious threat and perhaps go into an anxiety attack upon arriving at the party.

Selye’s GAS theory is still being referred to by many when assessing the phases individuals go through when dealing with stresses in work and home life environments (Tang & Hammontree, 1992). However, most psychologists and medical practitioners are taking a cognitive approach to how they assess stress, and emotions are now being viewed as equally important in how stress is approached as emotions can act as an eyeglass on how a person is interpreting a stressor (Lazarus, 1995).

I want to read more:

Baum, A., & Posluszny, D. M. (1999). HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY: Mapping Biobehavioral Contributions to Health and Illness. 137.

Lazarus, R. (1993). From Psychological Stress to the Emotions: A History of Changing Outlooks. XII+.

Lazarus, R. S. (1995). Vexing Research Problems Inherent in Cognitive-Mediational Theories of Emotion--And Some Solutions. Psychological Inquiry, 6(3), 183-196.

Tang, T. L., & Hammontree, M. L. (1992). The Effects of Hardiness, Police Stress and Life Stress on Police Officers' Illness and Absenteeism. Public Personnel Management, 21(4), 493.