Topic 6: Stress

Question 1

What is Stress? What does it do?

Answer 1

Stress is a physiological and psychological condition that prepares us to adapt to hostile or noxious envornmental conditions.

Question 2

What is Eutress and Distress?

Answer 2

Eutress is motivation to achieve goals

Distress is a deviation from healthy functioning

Question 3

What does the Hans Selyes General Adaptive Syndrome show?

Answer 3

The response to harsh environmental conditions over time.

Question 4

Explain the phases of the General Adaptive Syndrome.

Answer 4

1. Alarm
2. Resistance
3. Exhaustion

Question 5

What are the consequences of distress? Give examples of each.

Answer 5

• Psysiological: Cardiovascular disease, hypertension, headaches
• Behavioral: Work performence accidents, absenteeism, aggression, poor decisions
• Psychological: Distractions, moodyness, depression, emotional fatigue, burnout.

Question 6

What is burnout?

Answer 6

The process of emotinoal exhaustino, cynicism and reduced personal asccomplishment that results from prolonged exposure to stressors.

Question 7

What are stressors? Explain each.

Answer 7

• Harrasment and incivility
  
  • Psychological: Repeated and hostile or unwanted conduct.
  • Sexual: Unwelcome conduct of sexual nature.
• Work overload: Working too intensely or too long.
• Task control: Lack of control over a task, especially when responsibility for the task his high (e.g. sports coach.)

Question 8

How can work-related stress be managed?

Answer 8

• Remove or minimise the stressor
• Withdrawal from the stressor
  
  • Vacation, rest breaks
• Change stress perceptions
  
  • Positive self-concept, humour
• Control stress consequences
  
  • healthy lifestyle, fitness, wellness
• Receive social support

Question 9

What can firms do to generate positive emotions in the workplace?

Answer 9

• Reduce stressful events (e.g. time pressure, conflicting demands).
• Shaping job desion (e.g. high discretion).
• Optimizing physical settings (e.g. pleasant, not too noisy, cold).
• Leaders (should inspire positive feelings, not fear).
• Workgroup characteristics.
• Organisational rewards (eg. fair transperant rewards, equitable treatement).