Frustration

Chapter Four
 What is
Frustration?
 Frustration
• “The word frustration is not completely new to us,
rather it is somewhat familiar to us. Life is not a bed
of roses rather than it is full of thorn. So human life
is full of problems. We are overcoming numerous
problems in our everyday life. While facing problems
we apply our learned behaviour or techniques to solve
it.
• Difference between desired goal and actual situation
creates problem for an individual. A real problem
arises for a given individual when his behaviour
toward a goal or objective is blocked and he has no
learned techniques to meet the new situation. This
arising situation may be called frustration.
 Definition
• Frustration can be defined through some scholar
definition as follows:
• “Frustration is a feeling of discomfort or insecurity -
aroused buy a blocking of gratification or by under
solved problem.” – Josph Rubinstion.
• According to encyclopaedia Dictionary of
management-
• “In human behaviour the blocking of goal attainment
is called frustration.”
• For example, if we missed the bus we may go by
rickshaw Or by any other alternatives way. But there
are some situations where the learn behaviour is not
enough to solve the problem or then we may become
frustrated.
• For example, if we missed the bus we may go by
rickshaw Or by any other alternatives way. But
there are some situations where the learn
behaviour is not enough to solve the problem or
then we may become frustrated.
• The following figure illustrates that how a
frustration situation create:
• Here the person(p) is blocked from all sides and
he cannot change his goal. It is a very critical
situation. He is now controlled by the situation.
He cannot find out the alternative way yet he has
some external pressures. Naturally we manage
situation but in this case situation is managing and
governing him. The person has no learned
behaviour to solve the problem. So this failure
may introduce tension and the person may become
frustrated.
• For example, if the exam preparation
is not so good but there is no scope
to change the exam date. On the
other hand, family expect good
results from me. In this case the
student become frustrated.
 Frustration and behavior
• The behaviour is learned and we apply learned
behaviour to solve a problem and we get the
situation. but when the learned behaviour is not
applicable to solve a problem frustration arises.
every behaviour has its motive and objective what
a person does in a given situation is his behaviour.
And difference between desired situation and
actual situation creates problem. A problem arises
for a given individual when his behaviour toward a
goal or objective is blocked and he has no learn
techniques to meet the new situation.
• Problems always don’t make us frustrated. When
we face a problem we try to solve it By bringing
variability in our thoughts and actions. Variability
in behaviour is the basic criteria of normal man in
solving problems.
• The following four situations will show when or
how a man become frustrated
• Here P is person and G is goal. In this case P does
not face any problem to achieve the goal.
• In this case the person has an obstacle in his way
to achieve the goal. But he can change his way. So
he can achieve his goal in an alternative way. so
problem is no more there.
• In this case the person has a big obstacle
and he has no alternative way to achieve
the goal. But he can change his goal and
then he can achieve the goal. So, Here also
no more problem.
• Here the personperson(P) is blocked From all
sides and he cannot change this way and goal. It is
a very critical situation. He is now controlled by
the situation. he cannot find out The alternative
way. Yet he has some external pressures.
Naturally we manage situation but in this case
situation is managing and governing him.. The
person has no learned behaviour to solve the
problem. So this failure may introduce tensions
and the person may become frustrated.
• So, From the above discussion we can
say very simply that, pressures,
failure and inability to escape from a
problem situation produce
frustration.
 Differences between motivated and
Frustrated behaviour
Motivated behavior Frustrated behavior
• It is goal oriented. • It is not goal oriented.
• Tension is reduced when goal is • Tension is reduced when behaviour
reached. is expressed.
• Punishment deters action. • Punishment aggravates the
situation.
• Behaviour shows variability and • Variability in behaviour is rigid.
resource fullness in a problem
situation.
• Behaviour is constructive. • Behaviour is destructive
• Behaviour reflects choices • Behaviour is compulsive.
influenced by consequences.
• Learning proceeds and • Learning is blocked and behaviour
development occurs. is freezed.
• Behaviour reflects satisfaction. • Behaviour reflects dissatisfaction.
• Motivated behaviour is realistic. • Frustrated behaviour is not
systematic and realistic.
The symptoms of frustration
• Frustration is a feeling of discomfort or
insecurity aroused by a blocking of gratification
or by undersolved problem.
• Symptoms of frustration depends upon the
individuals tolerance, his previous history of
frustration, the pressure under which he is
interpretation of the situation.
• When situation becomes frustrating to the
individual, his behaviour undergoes a distinct
change variable and constructive behaviour is
replaced by Stereotyped and destructive
behaviour.
The symptoms of frustration are:
• Aggression
• Regression
• Abnormal
• Resignation
 1.Aggression
• Aggregation is a very important symptoms of
frustration.
• Aggression means some kind of attack.
• It has a hostile act and is associated with the
emotion of anger.
Forms of aggression:
❑Physical attack:
• The attack may be one of physical violence against
the person or toward an object. It is very common
among children.
• Example: Kicking a door when it does not work.
• Example: An individuals abusing his wife for buying
a dress.
❑Verbal attack
• It may be verbal abuse. it exists among the
educated person.
• Example: An individuals abusing his wife for
buying a dress.
❑Attack in disguise
• The attack may be in disguise from, When it
is not possible to attack physically or verbally.
• Example: to spread flying report about a
person’s health or character.
❑Scapegoating
• The attack on substitute objects often
takes The form of scapegoating, in which
certain individuals or groups tend to be
blamed for social evil.
• Example: A foreman me bawl Out a
Workman, the frustration evoked in the
Workman may cause him to go home and
abuse his wife. Here his wife is a
scapegoating.
 2.Regression:
Regression is a breakdown of constructive behaviour and
represents a return to childish action. In this stage, he
is not willing to accept the future and want to get back to
the past. Here, constructive behaviour means bringing
variability in behaviour, Which helps to control the
situation.
Forms of Regression:
❑Go back to the past:
It was found that children who are unhappy at home were
twice as much homesick in crap as children who were
happy at home. They think that the past is better and
they are unwilling to accept the future. This type of
attitude can be said as a “return to the Good old days”.
❑ Suggestibility
• Man becomes more suggestible and his action
sometimes is unreasonable.
❑ Uncritical
• If we regress to a more prime estate we tend to
lose our critical ability or lose our reason.

Signs of regression in managers:

• Refuse to delegate responsibility.

• Difficulty in making simple decision
• Hypersensitiveness
Signs of regression in industrial
employees:
• Lose of emotional control
• Following the leader
• Primitive social organisation
• Unreasonable fear
• Responsiveness to rumours and
• Horseplay etc.
 3. Abnormal Fixation
• The term ‘fixation' Is here used to designate
a compulsion to continue a kind of activity,
Which has no adaptive value. A fixed action is
repeated over and over, Despite the fact that
the person knowing that it will accomplish
nothing.
• Example: Common illustrations of fixations
occur in panic, in a burning building. people
persist in pushing at exits, Even though the
exits are barred.
• Another example- a rat banging on a locked
door again and again without trying the
unlocked door.
Symptoms of abnormal Fixation:

• Old behaviour is freezed and prevent the

practise of new behaviour.
• Logic follows their decisions rather than
precedes them.
• Ability to learn reduces by half a time.
• Behaviour is of compulsive character.
• Abnormal fixation occurs usually in a panic
strikes a situation.
 3. Resignation
• Resignation means ‘give up’. It breaks
down his morality and loses his self-
confidence and if anyone loses his
self-confidence he can do nothing.
Napoleon said “Self-confidence is the
essence of heroism”. Here the
individual cannot control the situation
rather he is controlled by the
situation.
Symptoms of resignation
• Here the individuals loses his self-
confidence.
• Will force is destroyed.
• He surrenders completely to the
situation.
• His moral becomes law.
• He feels that there is no way to do
better thing.
Ways of dealing with a frustration

• There are various ways to deal with

the frustration. The symptoms of
frustration are shown in a mixed
form in human behaviour. As a result
it is difficult to identify the reason
of frustration.
According to the scholars of psychology we can deal with a
frustrated man through some ways. These are described below:

1. The constructive viewpoint

2. Correcting the situation
3. Catharsis
4. Gripe session
5. Creating temporary outlets
6. Role-playing and
7. Counselling
 1.The constructive viewpoint
• Constrictive viewpoint means being
constructive in real life bringing
variability in behaviour, which helps to
control the situation. from the
constructive viewpoint we can deal with
the frustrated person.
• When a frustrated worker kicks the
door we can view the behaviour as a
sign of disrespect or as a hostile act
directed toward the manager or the
office or as symptom of frustration.
• Problem solving behaviour begins when
the manager wishes to explore what we
can do about the problem, He must
learn how to avoid becoming angry. if
one can learn how to avoid becoming
angry he can apply constructive
viewpoint most appropriately. ways to
avoid becoming angry:
• To be able to see a frustrated
person as one who needs help.
• Not to strike-back a frustrated man.
 2.Correcting the situation
• Perhaps the most desirable procedure for
dealing with frustration is to correct the
situation which proceed the frustration.
• when anybody shows frustrated behaviour, it
must have some reason or situation behind his
behaviour.
• The reason our situation should be identified
and correcting the reason to change.
• That means, When dealing with the person by
correcting or solving the problem is called
the way of correcting the situation.
 3. Catharsis:
• The term catharsis refers to the relief from
frustration, that is created by the more expression
of frustration. It means that when the emotion and
anger is released, frustration is reduced.
• It deals with a frustrated person showing him
passions and listen to his all words as a confident
listener and also supported him by oh! ah! That
means, If any frustrated people can express his
angry, his frustration become low down.
• So gather size is the way by which We can give the
frustrated man patience, sympathy and try to gain
his faith or confidence, listening his words for
which his frustration may relief.
 4. Gripe session:
• Normally in an organisation we can observe
that there are two parties. one is the
management and other is the liver or worker.
Gripe session means solving the problem
which arise between the management and
worker by consulting or discussing combinedly
among themselves.
• Gripe session have some precondition. These
are
• Here the employees can say that they want
to say.
• Management not only allows employees to
say what they want to say but also
encourage to say what they want to say.
• The supervisor Accept that statement
without going for counter argument.
• The supervisor does not take the side of
the side of the company.
• Employees are ensure that they will not be
punished for their sayings.
 5. Creating Temporary outlets
• When a frustrated employee has no
one to go to solve this problem then
we can deal with the frustrated
person by creating the way by which
the person can layout his emotion or
strong feeling.
 6. Role-playing:
• This is the method of placing own self
in the place of another And try to
think like him. Then it is possible to
understand what is feeling, thought
and what is right or wrong in the sense
of him. If we can successfully place
ourselves to another we can
understand him correctly. To deal
with the frustrated person by such
method is called the role-playing.
 7.Counselling:
• Most frustration arise from
misunderstanding between employees
and author.
• In this regard industrial counselling
will help to workers to reduce their
frustration.
• it means to give advice the workers
that may bring them back in their
normal life.
Functions of counselling:

i. Advice
ii. Reassurance
iii. Communication
iv. Release of emotional tension.
v. Clarified thinking
vi. Reorientation
• The above are the possible ways
through which we can attempt to
bring back the frustrated
employees in their normal life. But
a Single remedy may not be
perfect. For this to select a
method that is best adapted to
the employee’s needs.