HUMAN BEHAVIOR

PREFINALS
MS. PRINCES O. BINADAY
PART 4
 Stress
• Stress is the way we react, physically or emotionally, to change. Stress
may be a positive or negative force. Stress may be mild or severe. The level
of uncertainty and the degree of importance will determine the amount of
stress one feels. The greater importance and the higher the level of
uncertainty, the higher the level of stress. The duration and severity of
stress is dependent on how powerful the causes are and how long the
causes continue. People react to stress in three basic ways. They may
elect to avoid the stress and hope whatever is causing the stress goes
away, they may resist stress by becoming very defensive, or they may
choose to confront and/or adapt to the stress. If the cause is something we
cannot change, one may choose to adapt to the change as a means of
resisting the stress. One may also confront the stress and address the real
cause to find resolution.
• Positive stress is termed functional stress and incites improved
performance. Negative stress is termed dysfunctional and impedes
individual or group performance. Negative stress, left unchecked, may
show itself physiologically, psychologically, and/or behaviorally. Job-
related stress impacts employee satisfaction and performance and tends to
decrease job satisfaction.
There are proven stress management techniques
that can be very beneficial to the organization and
the employee. Those suggested in the text include:
• Establish personal priorities
• Do physical exercise
• Use time management
• Find a way to relax that works for you
Stress management needs to be part of an overall
wellness program. The results have proven to add
to the health and welfare of the employees and to
contribute to the company’s health, the bottom line.
Stress is the body’s natural defense against predators and
danger. It causes the body to flood with hormones that
prepare its systems to evade or confront danger. People
commonly refer to this as the fight-or-flight mechanism.
When humans face a challenge or threat, they have a partly
physical response. The body activates resources that help
people either stay and confront the challenge or get to safety
as fast as possible.
The body produces larger quantities of the chemicals cortisol,
epinephrine, and norepinephrine. These trigger the following
physical reactions:
A. increased blood pressure
B. heightened muscle preparedness
C. sweating
D. alertness
Factors all improve a person’s ability to
respond to a potentially hazardous or
challenging situation. Norepinephrine and
epinephrine also cause a faster heart rate.
factors that trigger this reaction are called
stressors. Examples include noises,
aggressive behavior, a speeding car, scary
moments in movies, or even going out on a
first date. Feelings of stress tend to increase in
tandem with the number of stressors.
 Physical effects
Stress slows down some normal bodily functions, such as those that the
digestive and immune systems perform. The body can then concentrate
its resources on breathing, blood flow, alertness, and the preparation of
the muscles for sudden use.
The body changes in the following ways during a stress reaction:
a) blood pressure and pulse rise
b) breathing speeds up
c) digestive system slows down
d) immune activity decreases
e) muscles become more tense
f) sleepiness decreases due to a heightened state of alertness
• How a person reacts to a difficult situation will determine the effects
of stress on overall health. Some people can experience several
stressors in a row or at once without this leading a severe stress
reaction. Others may have a stronger response to a single stressor.
• An individual who feels as though they do not have enough resources
to cope will probably have a stronger reaction that could trigger
health problems. Stressors affect individuals in different ways.
• Some experiences that people generally consider to be positive can
lead to stress, such as having a baby, going on vacation, moving to a
better home, and getting a promotion at work.
• The reason for this is that they typically involve a significant change,
extra effort, new responsibilities, and a need for adaptation. They also
often require a person to take steps into the unknown.
• A person may look forward to an increased salary following a
promotion, for example, but wonder whether they can handle the
extra responsibilities.
• A persistently negative response to challenges can have an adverse
effect on health and happiness.
 Types
1. Acute stress
This type of stress is short-term and usually the more common form of
stress. Acute stress often develops when people consider the pressures
of events that have recently occurred or face upcoming challenges in
the near future.
For example, a person may feel stressed about a recent argument or an
upcoming deadline. However, the stress will reduce or disappear once a
person resolves the argument or meets the deadline.
Acute stressors are often new and tend to have a clear and immediate
solution. Even with the more difficult challenges that people face, there
are possible ways to get out of the situation.
Acute stress does not cause the same amount of damage as long-term,
chronic stress. Short-term effects include tension headaches and an 
upset stomach, as well as a moderate amount of distress.
However, repeated instances of acute stress over an extended period
can become chronic and harmful.
2. Chronic stress
This type of stress develops over a long period and is more harmful.
Ongoing poverty, a dysfunctional family, or an unhappy marriage are examples of
situations that can cause chronic stress. It occurs when a person can see no way to
avoid their stressors and stops seeking solutions. A traumatic experience early in life
may also contribute to chronic stress.
Chronic stress makes it difficult for the body to return to a normal level of stress hormone
activity, which can contribute to problems in the following systems:
a) cardiovascular
b) respiratory
c) sleep
d) immune
e) reproductive
A constant state of stress can also increase a person’s risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood
pressure, and heart disease. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders,
such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can develop when stress becomes
chronic.
Chronic stress can continue unnoticed, as people can become used to feeling agitated
and hopeless. It can become part of an individual’s personality, making them constantly
prone to the effects of stress regardless of the scenarios that they encounter.
People with chronic stress are at risk of having a final breakdown that can lead to
suicide, violent actions, a heart attack, or stroke.
 Causes
Common major life events that can trigger stress include:
i. job issues or retirement
ii. lack of time or money
iii. bereavement
iv. family problems
v. illness
vi. moving home
vii. relationships, marriage, and divorce
commonly reported causes of stress are:
viii.abortion or pregnancy loss
ix. driving in heavy traffic or fear of an accident
x. fear of crime or problems with neighbors
xi. pregnancy and becoming a parent
xii. excessive noise, overcrowding, and pollution
xiii.uncertainty or waiting for an important outcome
 Symptoms and complications
The physical effects of stress can include:
I. sweating
II. pain in the back or chest
III. cramps or muscle spasms
IV. fainting
V. headaches
VI. nervous twitches
VII.pins and needles sensations

Emotional reactions can include:

VIII.anger
IX. burnout
X. concentration issues
XI. fatigue
XII.a feeling of insecurity
XIII.forgetfulness
XIV.irritability
XV.nail biting
XVI.restlessness
XVII.
sadness
 Stress Management

Stress can be effectively managed in many

different ways. The best stress management
plans usually include a mix of 
stress relievers that address stress
physically and psychologically and help to
develop resilience and coping skills.
 Use Quick Stress Relievers
• Some stress relief techniques can work in just a few minutes to
calm the body's stress response. These techniques offer a
"quick fix" that helps you feel calmer at the moment, and this
can help in several ways.
• When your stress response is not triggered, you may approach
problems more thoughtfully and proactively. You may be less
likely to lash out at others out of frustration, which can keep
your relationships healthier. Nipping your stress response in
the bud can also keep you from experiencing chronic stress.
• Quick stress relievers like breathing exercises, for example,
may not build your resilience to future stress or minimize the
stressors that you face. But they can help calm the body's
physiology once the stress response is triggered.2
Eliminate Stressors When You Can

You may not be able to completely eliminate

stress from your life or even the biggest
stressors, but there are areas where you can
minimize it and get it to a manageable level.
Any stress that you can cut out can minimize
your overall stress load. For example, ending
even one toxic relationship can help you more
effectively deal with other stress you experience
because you may feel less overwhelmed
 Develop Stress-Relieving Habits
Some techniques are less convenient to use when you
are in the middle of a stressful situation. But if you
practice them regularly, they can help you manage
stress in general by being less reactive to it and more
able to reverse your stress response quickly and easily.
Long-term healthy habits, like exercise or regular 
meditation, can help to promote resilience toward
stressors if you make them a regular part of your life.3
 Communication skills and other lifestyle skills can be
helpful in managing stressors and changing how we
feel from "overwhelmed" to "challenged" or even
"stimulated."