CHAPTER 6

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FRUSTRATION, CONFLICT AND

STRESS

WHAT IS FRUSTRATION? WHEN DOES IT OCCUR? As an event, the thwarting circumstances that block or interfere with goal-directed activity is frustration.

WHAT FACTORS

CAUSE FRUSTRATION

?

1. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

Example: Obstacle such as traffic jams, crowded lines at the supermarket, droughts that destroy a farmer crops, noise that prevents concentration, floods that delay us in our travel.

Frustration Video

Traffic Video

2. SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTExample: Restrictions imposed by other people laws, customs, norms of society.

3. INDIVIDUAL’S OWN

LIMITATIONExample: Lack of specific abilities, physical handicaps.

4. CONFLICT What is a conflict?- Related to frustration is the state of conflict which results when we must make a choice of alternatives and cannot arrive at a decision.

One of the confusing things about frustration and conflict is that each may be the consequence of the other.

Ex. Boy meets girl, asks for a date and is turn down: result—frustration. Should be ask again or give up? --Conflict

FOUR TYPES OF CONFLICT

1. Approach – approach

2. Avoidance – avoidance

3. Approach – avoidance

4. Double/multiple approach

1. APPROACH - APPROACH

This type of conflict occurs when the individual has two desirable but mutually exclusive goals.

+G ←P→ +G

2. AVOIDANCE - AVOIDANCE

This type of conflict occurs when there are two undesirable situations but cannot avoid one without encountering the other.

- G

→P← - G

3. APPROACH - AVOIDANCE The conflict occurs when a

person is both attracted and repelled by the same object , person or situation. This is difficult to resolve.

The person is attracted to a goal that has both positive and negative values. ±

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4. DOUBLE/MULTIPLE APPROACH

In this type of conflict one is attracted to two positive goals but each one has negative alternatives.

Job Offer A

Job Offer B

P

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WHAT MOTIVES PRESENT THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR CONFLICT?

In our society today, there are motives which are most pervasive and difficult to resolve. These motives generally occur between the following areas:

1. Independence vs. dependence2. Intimacy vs. isolation3. Cooperation vs. competition4. Impulses expression vs. moral

standards

Independence vs.

dependence

In time of stress we may want to resort to the dependence characteristics of childhood, to have someone take care of us and solve our problems. But we are taught that the ability to stand on our own and assume responsibilities is a mark of maturity.

Intimacy vs.

isolation

The desire to be close to another and to share our innermost thoughts and emotions may conflict with the fear of being hurt or rejected if we expose too much of ourselves.

Cooperation vs.

competition

Competitions begins in early childhood, among siblings continues through school, and culminates in business and professional rivalry. At the same time, we are urged to cooperate with the help of others. Such contradictory expectations have the potential for producing conflict.

Impulses expression vs.

moral standards

All societies have to regulate impulses to some degree. Sex and aggression are two areas in which our impulses most frequently conflict with moral standards. The violation of these standards may generate strong feelings of guilt.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE

IMMEDIATE REACTIONS TO FRUSTRATIONS?

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1. AGGRESSION Generally , aggression is a kind

of behavior intended to harm another person. It is either physically or verbally. There are also two kinds of aggression namely:

a. Direct aggressionb. Displaced Aggression (Indirect)

Agression Video

2. APATHY This is another response to

frustration which is just the opposite of aggression. This kind of behavior shows indifference or withdrawal. Children whose aggressive outburst are never successful, who find they have no power to satisfy their needs by means of their own actions, may well resort to apathy and withdrawal when confronted with subsequent frustrating situations.

APATHY VIDEO

3. REGRESSION This behavior is described as a

turn to childish forms of behavior. Adults sometimes resort to immature forms of behavior when faced with frustrating situations like to yell or start a fist fight, give up any attempt to cope and seek someone to solve the problem for them.

Regression Video

HOW ARE DEFENSE MECHANISM DESCRIBED?

WHAT IS A DEFENSE MECHANISM?

Defense mechanism refers to the unconscious processes that protect a person against anxiety by distorting reality in some way.

Defense mechanisms can be compared to drugs that reduce symptoms without curing the ailment. Similarly , defense mechanisms may provide relief from anxiety until more realistic ways of solving personal problems can be worked out.

THE FOLLOWING ARE A FEW OF THE DEFENSE

MECHANISMS THAT CAN BE MENTIONED HERE:

This is a defense mechanism by which unacceptable impulses or ideas are not perceived or allowed into full awareness.

1. DENIAL

This is a denial of an impulse or memory that might provoke feelings of guilt by its disappearance from awareness. This denial is a defense against internal threats.

2. REPRESSION

is a defense mechanism that allows us to act out unacceptable impulses by converting these behaviors into a more acceptable form.

For example, a person experiencing extreme anger might take up kick-boxing as a means of venting frustration.

3. SUBLIMATION

A defense mechanism in which self-esteem is maintained by assigning plausible and acceptable reasons for conduct entered on impulsively or for less acceptable reason.

4.RATIONALIZATION

A defense mechanism in which a person denies a disapproved motive through giving strong expression to its opposite.

5. REACTION-FORMATION

A defense mechanism in which people protect themselves from awareness of their own undesirable traits by attributing those traits excessively to others.

6. PROJECTION

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A defense mechanism tries to make a person gain detachment from an emotionally threatening situation by dealing with it in abstract , intellectual terms.

7. Intellectualizatio

n

This refers to a motive that is not directly expressed but appears in a more acceptable form.

Displacement involves taking out our frustrations, feelings and impulses on people or objects that are less threatening.

8. DISPLACEMENT

This defense mechanism allows the individual to counterbalance his feelings of inadequacy by doing well in another activity.

Ex. A crippled individual could develop his physique through body-building exercise or excelling in sports. This is a positive compensatory act.

9. COMPENSATION

Example negative compensation are found in people who pretend to be superior than others to cover up their feelings of inadequacy; in the student who distracts attention of classmates or making “show offs” because they believe that nobody notices them or is in need of recognition.

This is also a type of compensation for a weakness by exerting too much effort to overcome it.

Ex. Ludwig Van Beethoven suffered from deafness, yet became one of the world’s renowned musicians.

10. OVERCOMPENSATION

This mechanism is helpful in releasing some repressed feelings by “taking it out’ to a confidante.

Ex. Good “bull sessions” with friends and T- group training used by modern management.

11. CATHARSIS

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suicidal video

“STRESS”

Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, nervous, worried and tense .

WHAT IS STRESS?

WHAT ARE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF STRESS?

HOW CAN LAUGHTER BE UTILIZED AS A STRESS

DIFFUSER?

“LAUGTHER IS

THE BEST

MEDICINE”

VIDEO

VIDEO SCANDAL IN THE FAMILY

WHAT FACTORS

INFLUENCE THE SEVERITY OF STRESS?

Being able to foresee the occurrence of a stressful event, even if we can’t control it usually reduces its severity.

PREDICTABILITY

Having control over the duration of a stressful event also reduces its severity.

2. CONTROL OVER

DURATION

The stressful event can be perceived quite differently by two people, depending on what the situation means to them.

COGNITIVE EVALUATION

A persons confidence in his or her ability to handle a stressful situation is a major factor in determining the severity of the stress.

FEELINGS OF COMPETENCY

The emotional support and concern of other people can make stress more bearable.

SOCIAL SUPPORT

friends video