Stress:%20Individual%20Differences

1
Stress Individual Differences

• Type A behaviour pattern
• Hardiness
• Locus of control

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2
Type A Behaviour
Type A Competitive Time urgent Hostile and
aggressive
Type B Relaxed One thing at a time Express
feelings
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3
Type A Behaviour

• Lots of research e.g.
• Friedman Rosenman (1959 1974), Matthews et al
  (1977), Ganster et al (1991)
• Hostility seems to be critical factor
• Relationship probably due to strain on CV system,
  hormonal effects
• Association between TABP and CHD is moderate at
  best

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4
Hardiness

• The tree survives not because it stands up
  rigidly to the weather, but because it bends with
  the wind
• Commitment engage, dont avoid
• Control try to influence outcomes
• Challenge view stress as part of life, a
  challenge to be learned from

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5
Hardiness

• Some research support e.g.
• Kobasa et al (1982 1985), Funk (1992)
• Hardy individuals seem to experience fewer
  stress-related illnesses
• Problems with confounding factors (e.g. exercise,
  social support) and restricted samples
• Correlational data problems of cause effect

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6
Locus of Control
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7
Locus of Control

• Interaction of LOC with stress is difficult to
  predict
• Internals might get more stressed as they feel
  they should be able to control things
• Externals might get more stressed as they feel
  they cant do anything
• Probably depends on intensity and predictability
  of the stressor

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