transactional model

Question 1

potential Psychological Factors that Cause or Influence how we Respond to Stressors

Answer 1

Prior experience with stressors and stress responses, Attitudes , Motivation Level of Self Esteem General outlook on life (optimism vs. pessimism), Personality characteristics, Coping skills, Perception of how much control we have over a stressful event or situation

Question 2

perspective on stressful situations

Answer 2

individuals appraisal of the situation and their resources for dealing with that situation determine whether or not they experience stress and the nature of their stress response
Same stressor > different appraisal

Question 3

The Transactional Model of Stress and Coping

Answer 3

suggests we make an evaluation of the situation we are in. interaction an individual has witht their environemt .

Question 4

Primary Appraisal Outcomes

Answer 4

Irrelevant
Benign-Positive
Stressful

Question 5

And if it is appraised as stressful (primary appraisal)

Answer 5

A stressful situation can be viewed as
A challenge- the situation is stressful but viewed as a possibility to grow or gain something from the predicament.
A threat- the situation is stressful there is concern that it will cause future damage.
A harm-loss situation- The situation is stressful. Damage has already occurred.

Question 6

secondary appraisal

Answer 6

We evaluate our coping options and resources and our options for dealing with the event

Our coping options and resources available may be internal (eg. strength and determination) or external (eg. money and support from family and friends)

If the coping demands of the situation are perceived as being far greater than the resources that are available, then we are likely to experience a stress response

Question 7

reappraisal

Answer 7

re-evaluate the stressor, initial shock of the stressor might result in the person thinking they don’t have the resources to cope.

Question 8

strengths of transactional model

Answer 8

Emphasises the personal and individuality of the human stress response

Focuses on psychological influences on how we individually react to a stressor

Development of the model with reference to observations of people (as opposed to GAS which studied animals)

Enhances understanding of need for stress-management strategies

Question 9

limitations of transactional model

Answer 9

It is difficult to test through experimental research (due to subjective nature, variability and complexity of individuals responses to stressful experiences)

Difficult to separate primary and secondary appraisal

Some doubts about how we really do appraise a situation – when confronted with a stressor, do we always think about it, or do we just ‘act’?

It did not include cultural, social or environmental factors in looking at how individuals perceive a stressful event.