Page 449 - Understanding Psychology

1. Review the Vocabulary How does your cognitive appraisal of an event determine your stress level?
2. Visualize the Main Idea Use a graphic organizer similar to the one below to list several active coping strategies for dealing with stress.
Active Coping Strategies
3. Recall Information How do people use denial and intellectualization to cope with stress?
4. Think Critically Why would writing about a stressful experience help you better cope with it?
5. Application Activity
Think of a stressful situation that you have recently experienced.
How did you cope with it? Describe and analyze your coping mechanism as a psychologist would in a brief report.
an outlet for physical arousal, and it may burn off stress hormones. Continuous rhythmic exercise—running or swimming, for example—is not only effective against stress but also ideal for respiratory and cardio- vascular fitness. David Holmes and colleagues have performed experi- ments that indicate aerobic exercise reduces cardiovascular response and arousal following both stressful life events and immediate stress (Roth & Holmes, 1987; Holmes & Roth, 1988).
Support Groups and Professional Help We have discussed the positive role that social support plays in reducing stress. Groups that operate beyond ordinary personal networks, including Alcoholics Anonymous, Weight Watchers, and crisis prevention centers, can help people with specific stress-related problems. Professionals such as psychologists, doc- tors, social workers, and ministers can also be consulted.
Training A new, unfamiliar, or dangerous situation can be stressful because we are unsure we can deal with it. Training to prepare for such a situation can ease the stress. For instance, a person who is nervous about going to a friend’s country club because she does not play tennis might take a few tennis lessons. Exposure to moderate stressors in a rel- atively safe but challenging environment allows a person to gain experi- ence and confidence in coping.
Improving Interpersonal Skills Much of the stress we undergo results from interpersonal relations. Developing skills in dealing with others— family, friends, and coworkers—is thus one of the best ways to manage stress. There are several advantages to being able to interact well with oth- ers—increased self-confidence and self-esteem, less chance of loneliness or interpersonal conflict, and development of social support systems.
Assessment
Reading Check
How can the use of humor reduce stress?
Chapter 15 / Stress and Health 435