Includes all relevant information! Really well written
By: shivanikist • 4 year ago
Seller
Follow
rowanmoelijker
Reviews received
Content preview
SUMMARY COURSE 3.6:
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND
SAFETY
BY ROWAN MOELIJKER
YEAR 2018/2019
POSITIVE & ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
ERASMUS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES
,PROBLEM 1: HEALTH AT WORK
BASICS OF STRESS
SULSKY, L. & SMITH, C.S. (2005). CHAPTER 1. WHAT IS STRESS?. IN SULSKY, L. & SMITH, C.S.
(ED.), WORKSTRESS (PP. 3–20). THOMSON, WADSWORTH.
Professor notes: As the title implies, the most important information in this article about stress and its
definitions. Take special care to the different definitions of stress that are provided in the text (e.g., stimulus
definition, response definition, etc.). At the end, the authors also talk a bit about the physiology of stress. For
students it is not necessary to know all these aspects (for example as described in figure 1.2 on p. 16) by heart.
A general idea of stress physiology suffices, such as the three stages of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS).
Definitions of Stress
Stimulus Definitions: define stress in terms of the event or situation in the environment that contributes to or
causes a harmful or disruptive experience; the event or situation is called a stressor. The implication of this
definition is that stress can be defined using objective or external criteria.
Response Definitions: focus on the reaction the organism has to the stressor. Long-term or chronic changes in
response to a stressor are often called strains. The response to the stressor is always internal, but it may or
may not have overt manifestations for example trembling hands. Longer-term responses (strains) could include
an unfortunate outcome such as coronary heart disease.
Stimulus-Response Definitions: stress results from interactions between environmental stimuli (stressors) and
individual responses (often in the form of strains). This type of definition is more complex than the other two
because the stressor-response interaction can take a variety of forms, depending on both the nature of the
stressor and the response. This is a relational definition because it deals with the relationship between the
person and the environment.
The definition of stress that the authors created, falls out of the stimulus-response tradition. Stress is defined
as any circumstance (stressor) that places special physical and/or psychological demands on an organism
leading to physiological, psychological and behaviour outcomes.
A psychological appraisal occurs that determines the severity of the stressor. This appraisal may then lead to
specific short-term outcomes and (eventually) chronic outcomes or strains, and the appraisal and outcomes
may be affected by characteristics of the person, group, and/or situation. These characteristics are often
referred to as stress modifiers or moderators.
, Stressors may be either chronic or acute in nature. When a stressor is first appraised as stressful, we
characterize it as an acute stressor. If the stressor persists over time, the stressor is considered to be a chronic
stressor. Chronic stressors typically evoke the long-term outcomes.
Some stimuli, particularly physical or environmental stressors, can probably automatically elicit a response
without the need for mediating interpretation. Most work-related stimuli that may become stressors, are likely
not that hard wired. That is, the intervening cognitions that interpret whether a stimulus is stressful are
probably fundamental and necessary.
The Psychology of Stress: The Role of Appraisal
Lazarus believed that an appraisal occurs at two different points in the stress experience:
1. Primary appraisal: when the situation is perceived as being stressful.
2. Secondary appraisal: when some type of response to the stressor is consciously chosen.
Reappraisal can occur based on feedback from primary and secondary appraisals.
For example, a person must first decide that the job is demanding (primary appraisal) and then decide how to
cope with it by, for example, asking for assistance (secondary appraisal). At some point, perhaps because the
person has effectively coped with the situation, he no longer perceives it as stressful (reappraisal).
The Physiology of Stress
Fight or flight response: a chain of changes in nerves and glands in the body.
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS): consists of three phases.
1. Alarm stage: your first response when experiencing a stressor, e.g. wildly beating heart, the result of the
fight or flight response.
2. Stage of resistance: occurs shortly after the alarm stage, here the chain of events is initiated in the pituitary
gland, which culminates in glucocorticoid production. At this stage, the body seems to be recovering, but if the
stressor is not eliminated, this recovery is only illusory.
3. Stage of exhaustion: is associated with the development of long-term or chronic strains. At least initially, the
stage of exhaustion mimics the alarm stage, with the body rallying its last round of defences. Of course, if the
stressor remains or returns too frequently, the eventual outcome might be the death of the organism.
MCEWEN. (2006). STRESS, ADAPTATION, AND DISEASE. ALLOSTASIS AND ALLOSTATIC LOAD.
ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCE, 840(1), 33–44. DOI:10.1111/J.1749-
6632.1998.TB09546.X
Professor notes: This is a somewhat biological based view on stress. Nevertheless, it is one of the most
influential and cited papers in stress research. Therefore, it is important for students to know this article.
Students do not have to know the biological details that are mentioned in the article (for example, CA1
pyramidical cells, DHEA-sulfate, CBG). It is more important to get an idea about the view on stress that is
advocated in the article. Namely, one in which stress is seen as a deviation from homeostasis (balance). What
are the main terms associated with this idea? How does stress affect health and body (in general)?
Individual Differences in Response to Challenge
The individual differences in response to potentially stressful situations are caused by two principle factors:
1. How the individual perceives and interpret the situation. If perceived as a threat, then behaviours and
physiological responses will lead to further consequences. If the situation is not perceived as a threat, the
responses either don’t occur or are quite different and more benign.
2. The condition of the body itself. For example, people who are in good physical condition can handle
strenuous exercise far better than those not in shape.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller rowanmoelijker. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $4.82. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
