SOCIAL THEORIES

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SOCIAL THEORY
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CURRENT SOCIAL THEORY

• LEONARD PEARLIN THE STRESS PROCESS
• DIFFERENCES WITH SRRS

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STRESS PROCESS

• 1. EVENTS NOT ISOLATED BUT EMBEDDED IN SOCIAL
  POSITIONS
• 2. EVENTS NOT ISOLATED BUT INTERCONNECTED
• 3. MORE DIVERSE CATEGORIES OF EVENTS
• 4. IMPORTANCE OF MEDIATORS

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THREE ELEMENTS OF STRESS PROCESS
STRESSORS
MEDIATORS
OUTCOME
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1. STRESSORS (CAUSES)

• 1. EMPHASIZES POSITION IN SOCIAL STRUCTURES -
  SOCIAL CLASS, ETHNIC, GENDER
• 2. EMPHASIZES SOCIAL ROLES - OVERLOAD,
  CONFLICT, CAPTIVITY
• 3. CONNECTION OF STRESSORS - STRESS
  PROLIFERATION (PRIMARY AND SECONDARY)

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TYPES OF STRESSORS

• 1. SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS
• LOSS OF ATTACHMENTS - DEATH, DIVORCE, ROMANTIC
  BREAKUPS
• 2. SUBORDINATE SOCIAL STATUS
• WORK ROLES, GENDER ROLES, LOW SOCIAL CLASS
• 3. FAILURE TO ACHIEVE SOCIAL GOALS
• REJECTION, FAILURE TO ACHIEVE

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NEW CATEGORIES OF STRESSORS

• 1. CHRONIC STRESSORS
• 2. TRAUMAS
• 3. DAILY HASSLES
• 4. DISASTERS (9/11)
• 10 PTSD OR MAJOR DEPRESSION FIVE WEEKS AFTER
  ATTACK
• 20 BELOW CANAL ST. WITH PTSD AND 17 WITH MAJOR
  DEPRESSION

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DIMENSIONS OF STRESSFUL LIFE EVENTS

• UNEXPECTABLE VS. EXPECTABLE
• PREEXISTING CONTEXT OF EVENT
• POSITIVE VS. NEGATIVE PRE-EVENT CONTEXT
• NEGATIVE POST-EVENT CONTEXT
• SECONDARY STRESSORS

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MEDIATORS
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THREE ELEMENTS OF STRESS PROCESS
STRESSORS
MEDIATORS
OUTCOME
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MEDIATORS

• WHY SOME PEOPLE WITH MANY STRESSORS HAVE LOW
  DISTRESS
• WHY SOME PEOPLE WITH FEW STRESSORS HAVE HIGH
  DISTRESS
• MAKE PEOPLE MORE OR LESS VULNERABLE TO THE
  STRESSORS THEY FACE

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MEDIATORS (TURNER)

• SOCIAL RESOURCES
• 1. SUPPORT - SENSE OF BEING CARED FOR, BELONGING,
  WANTED
• ONE INTIMATE
• STRONG FAMILY TIES, RELIGION
• 2. MATERIAL SUPPORT

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SOCIAL COMPARISON

• STRESSFULNESS DEPENDS ON REFERENCE GROUP
• INCOME
• QUADRIPLEGICS
• DOWNWARD COMPARISONS BETTER THAN UPWARD
  COMPARISONS

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CONTROL

• ACTIVE COPING BETTER THAN PASSIVE COPING (MASTERY
  VS. FATALISM)
• STUDY OF PEOPLE WITH ADULTEROUS SPOUSES
• BEST COPERS WERE THOSE WHO INITIATED DIVORCE OF
  ADULTEROUS SPOUSE

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3. OUTCOMES

• BOTH EXPOSURE TO STRESSORS AND COPING RESPONSES
  PREDICT HOW MUCH DISTRESS PEOPLE HAVE
• STANDARDIZED INSTRUMENTS LIKE CES-D
• GENERAL
• CONTINUOUS

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TREATMENT

• ONLY THEORY WITH NO DIRECT TREATMENT ASPECT
• CHANGE ENVIRONMENT - FRESH STARTS
• MUCH DISTRESS SELF-LIMITING (9-11)
• IMPORTANCE OF INFORMAL SUPPORT

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CRITICISMS OF SOCIAL

• IGNORES HOW MENTAL SYMPTOMS ARE DEEPLY ROOTED IN
  INDIVIDUALS NOT SITUATIONS
• NOT GOOD FOR EXPLAINING MOST SERIOUS TYPES OF
  MENTAL ILLNESS
• UNSPECIFIC TREATMENT COMPONENT

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STRENGTHS

• BETTER AT EXPLAINING DISTRESS THAN PARTICULAR
  MENTAL ILLNESSES
• BETTER AT LOOKING AT GROUP, RATHER THAN AT
  INDIVIDUAL, DIFFERENCES
• EMPHASIS ON EXTERNAL AND CURRENT CAUSES OF
  DISTRESS