MANA 3318 1st Edition Exam 3 Study Guide Lectures 7 9 Lecture 7 October 2 Chapter 7 Stress and Well Being at Work 7 1 What Is Stress Poor leadership work family conflicts and sexual harassment are the leading causes of work stress Stress the unconscious preparation to fight or flee that a person experiences when faced with any demand Stressor the person or event that triggers the stress response Stress is neutral concept with bad connotation Distress or strain the adverse psychological physical behavioral and organizational consequence that may arise as a result of stressful events 7 2 Four Approaches to Stress Stress response discovered by Walter B Cannon 4 approaches homeostatic medical cognitive appraisal person environment and psychoanalytic 7 2a The Homeostatic Medical Approach Emergency or militaristic response Stress occurs when an external environmental demand upsets an individual s natural steady state balance Homeostasis a steady state of bodily functioning and equilibrium 7 2b The Cognitive Appraisal Approach Lazarus more concerned with psychology of stress Emphasizes individual s cognitive appraisal in classifying persons or events stressful or not Important in determining what is stressful Problem focused and emotion focused coping Problem is managing stressor emotion response 7 2c The Person Environment Fit Approach Kahn more concerned with social psychology of stress Emphasizes that confusing and conflicting expectations of a person in a social role create stress for that person 7 2d The Psychoanalytic Approach Made by Freud perfected by Levin 2 elements of a personality ego ideal and self image Ego ideal the embodiment of a person s perfect self Self image how a person sees himself or herself both positively and negatively Stress results from difference between the two 7 3 The Stress Response The endocrine and sympathetic nervous system respond to stress 7 4 Sources of Work Stress One of most complex is role conflict 7 4a Work Demands 3 categories task interpersonal and physical Task Demands change lack of control career progress new technology temporal pressure Role Demands role conflict interrole and intrarole person role role ambiguity Interrole is 2 roles intrarole is 1 Interpersonal Demands emotional toxins sexual harassment poor leadership Physical demands extreme environment strenuous activities hazardous substances global travel 7 4b Nonwork Demands Home Demands family expectations child rearing and parental care Personal Demands workaholism civic and volunteer work and traumatic events Workaholism an imbalance preoccupation with work at the expense of home and personal life satisfaction 7 5 The Consequences of Stress Can be positive or negative 7 5a Positive Stress Some people thrive under stress by using it in a positive healthy way Stress should be optimal for peak performance 7 5b Individual Distress Karoshi is death by overwork Understimulation and overstimulation lead to distress Burnout is emotional exhaustion depersonalization and reduced perceptions of personal accomplishment Rust out is a form of psychological distress caused by a lack of challenge inspiration and or opportunity Behavioral problems also distress because of workplace aggression substance abuse and accidents 7 5c Organizational Distress Participation problems a cost associated with absenteeism tardiness strikes and work stoppages and turnover Dysfunctional turnover is when an org loses a good employee Functional turnover is when an org loses a bad employee Performance decrements a cost resulting from poor quality or low quantity of production grievances and unscheduled machine downtime and repair Compensation awards an organizational cost resulting from court awards for job distress 7 6 Individual Differences in the Stress Strain Relationship Person breaks down at weakest point 7 6a Gender Effects Women s responses to stress are different than men s Different stressors such as sexual harassment and health problems 7 6b Type A Behavior Pattern Type A behavior pattern a complex of personality and behavioral characteristics including competitiveness time urgency social status insecurity aggression hostility and a quest for achievements Also labelled coronary prone behavior because it s linked with coronary heart disease Two hypothesis as to which part of Type A is lethal One is time urgency the other is hostility and aggression Evidence suggests hostility and aggression Alternate is Type B Type A recovers better from heart attacks Type A can be modified by recognizing that they are prone to Type A and maybe to spend time with Type B Type A can pace and manage time well and multitask 7 6c Personality Hardiness Hardy personalities resist strain reactions Personality hardiness a personality characterized by commitment control and challenge and hence resistant to distress High levels of commitment less lively to leave org or have stress Hardy uses transformational coping Transformational coping a way of managing stressful events by changing them into less subjectively stressful events Alternative is regressive coping by passively avoiding events 7 6d Self Reliance Social relationships have important impact on health and life expectancy Self reliance a healthy secure interdependent pattern of behavior related to how people form and maintain supportive attachments with others Based on attachment theory Self reliant reacts to stress by reaching out to others Is a flexible responsive strategy of forming and maintaining multiple diverse relationships They are confident enthusiastic and persistent in facing challenges Form healthy relationships Counterdependence an unhealthy insecure pattern of behavior that leads to separation in relationships with other people They are rigid dismissing denial of the need for other people in difficult and stressful times Fearless aggressive and active response to challenges but not truly self reliant Overdependence an unhealthy insecure pattern of behavior that leads to preoccupied attempts to achieve security through relationships Clings to others Desperate preoccupied attempt to achieve sense of security Active but disorganized and anxious response to challenges 7 7 Preventive Stress Management Preventive stress management an organizational philosophy according to which people and organizations should take joint responsibility for promoting health and preventing distress and strain 3 stages Primary prevention the stage in preventive stress management