CHAPTER 6

Stress and
conflict are
part of
Frustration
everyday life.
Those who can
use stress as a
,Conflict,
motivator can
achieve greater
things.
Stress,
and Coping
 Click on a term
for more
information.
Frustration Anxiety

Stress Conflict
Introductio
n
Needs., Drives or motives play an
important role in the motivation of
human behavior.

Repeated failure in attaining the goal

further aggravates the situation leading
to frustration that may end in the
person’s maladjustment, abnormality
and mental illness.

It is the typical fight going on between

one's need and motives.
 Frustration
Man is ambitious in nature.
* We have many aspirations and desires to be fulfilled,
and we plan and strive hard for its realization.
We may sometime end with repeated failures.
●According to GOOD “Frustration means emotional
tension resulting from the blocking of a desire or need.
According to Coleman “Frustration results when our
motives are thwarted either by some obstacle that blocks or
impedes our progress towards a desired goal or by the absence
of an appropriate goal.
Frustration
Frustration may be defined as the
emotion produced when we are
blocked from reaching our goals.

Most frustrations are minor (busy signals,

traffic slowdowns, late arrivals, etc.).

Some can be serious, as when airline

flights are cancelled or talents or
abilities don’t measure up to
expectations.
Reactions to Frustration
Increasing trials and improving efforts:
During frustration some people go into
introspection and try to overcome obstacles
either by increased efforts or improvement of
behavior.

Adopting Compromising means: Repeated

failure force people to change the direction
efforts. If no medicine nursing would do.
Reactions to Frustration
Withdrawal : the individual learns to move
away from the situation that causes him
frustration. Behaviors such as asking for a
transfer or quitting a job. Refuse to marry in
case of sexual incompetency.

Regression : Behaving in an immature and

childish manner and may self-pity (to feel sorry
for oneself).
Physical Disorder : Physical ailments such as
fever, upset stomach, vomiting, etc.
Reactions to Frustration
Apathy : Becoming irresponsive and
disinterested in the job and his co-workers.

Submissiveness: Here the individual surrenders

himself and accepts his defeat. A child become
submissive in a thing after repeated failure.
Reactions to Frustration
External aggression: This aggression may be
directed towards either the person or persons
who caused the frustration or toward the
substitutes. An employee may quarrel with his
boss for not getting promotion or rebuke his wife
and children. Showing the enmity in one or other
manner.
Internal Aggression: an aggression turned
towards self. Instead of releasing the tensions on
others it is self directed.
Blaming self: Eventually the person becomes
neurotic or tries to find escape through suicide.
Conflict
● This term is commonly used. There may be conflicts
between two cultures, religions, or organizations.
● Conflict means a painful emotional state which
results from a tensions between opposed and
contradictory wishes. (Douglas)
● Internal conflicts are indecisiveness in making
choices between opposing or contradictory desires.
● 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 turned
down: result—frustration. Should be ask again
Conflict
Conflict arises when a person needs to decide
between two alternatives.
Types of conflict:
Approach-Approach
The approach - approach conflict is not all bad. You
have to decide between two attractive choices.

The person is
attracted to two goals.
APPROACH - APPROACH
● This type of conflict occurs when the individual has
two desirable but mutually exclusive goals.
● A conflict between two desired gratifications as
when a youth has to choose between two attractive and
practicable careers, may lead to some vacillation but
rarely to great distress.
● Eg. Read an interesting novel: go for games
● Eg. Selection of one girl for marriage from two
beautiful girls.
● Eg. Loyal to wife: Loyal to mother
+G ←P→ +G
Approach - Avoidance
The approach - avoidance conflict can be distressing.

The person is attracted to

one goal but it comes with a
negative aspect.
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.
● It occurs when there is one goal or event that has
both positive and negative effects or characteristics that
make the goal appealing and unappealing
simultaneously.
● Eg. To marry or not to marry, to purchase something
or not. It is severe and give rise to anxieties and
complexes.
P ±G
Avoidance - Avoidance
The avoidance - avoidance conflict presents two
undesirable goals.

The person has to

choose between them.
AVOIDANCE - AVOIDANCE
● This type of conflict occurs when there are two
undesirable situations but cannot avoid one without
encountering the other.
● Conflict whereby one must choose between two more
or less equally undesirable or unattractive goals.
● Eg. a situation where you have to decide between
doing unwanted homework (avoidance) or doing
unwanted house chores (avoidance).
● Not interested to study: not interested to disappoint
the parents by failing in examination.
- →P← -
Double Approach - Avoidance
The double approach - avoidance conflict is the
most common.

The person has two goals,

each has both good and
bad characteristics.
DOUBLE/MULTIPLE APPROACH
● In real life, the individual frequently is faced with
having to choose between two (or more) goals, each of
which has both attracting and repelling aspects.
● Since the tendency is to either approach or avoid each
of the goals, this pattern is called double approach-
avoidance.
● Eg. Choosing a house in the country means fresh air,
room to live, peace and quiet. It also means many hours
of commuting to work in heavy traffic and long
distances from city amenities and cultural events.
Job Offer P Job Offer
A B
Stress
Stress is defined as the physical
pressure and strain that result
from change.

When stress is good and leads to

something desirable such as
studying for a big exam and then
receiving a good grade on the exam,
it is called eustress.

When the stress has negative effects such as confusion, an

inability to make decisions, and illness, it is called distress.
Fight or Flight
Sequence of Steps in the Fight or Flight Behaviors

1. The brain appraises a situation as threatening

and dangerous.

2. The lower brain structure secretes a

stress hormone.
3. The stress hormone signals the adrenal glands
to secrete adrenaline.
4. This causes the muscles to tense, the heart to
beat faster, and the liver to send out sugar to
be used in the muscles.
The General Adaptation Syndrome
Defined as a series of stages the body goes through when
exposed to stressful situations.
1. The alarm stage is the initial stage where the body
prepares for attack—either psychological or
physical.
2. The second stage is called
the stage of resistance. The
body uses up a great
amount of energy to
prepare for the stressor.
Alarm Resistance Exhaustion

3. The third stage is exhaustion. It is marked by

body exhaustion and health problems.
 GAS refers to sequence of physiological reactions that the
body goes through when adapting to a stressor.
1. Alarm: When the body first reacts to a stressor, the
sympathetic nervous system is activated. The adrenal glands
release hormones that increase heart rate, blood pressure, and
the supply of blood sugar, resulting in burst of energy.
Reactions such as fever, nausea, and headache.
2. Resistance: If stress continues, the body settles into sympathetic
division activity through releasing the stress hormones that help
the body fight off, or resist, the stressor. The early symptoms of
alarm lessen and the person may feel better.
3. Exhaustion. When the body’s resources are gone, resistance
ends, the parasympathetic division activates, and exhaustion
occurs. Exhaustion can lead to the formation of stress related
disease (high blood pressure, weakened immune system).
Coping with Stress
Issue of Control
People deal better with stress if they have some degree of
control in a stressful situation.

Self-Concept
If people don’t feel confident (have a positive
self-concept), they will become anxious and
withdrawn.

Self-Esteem
Worthwhile feelings people have. If we are
expected to meet impossible standards, we often
stop trying at all.
Psychological Defense Mechanisms
Psychological defense mechanisms are distortions (actions)
that keep people psychologically stable.

Examples include: Click on a

Repression term to have it
defined.
Denial Displacement

Identification
Reaction
Intellectualization with the
Formation Aggressor

Regression Rationalization Projection Sublimation

EXIT
Psychological Defense Mechanisms
Psychological defense mechanisms are distortions (actions)
that keep people psychologically stable.

Examples include: Click on a

Repression term to have it
defined.
Denial Displacement

Identification
Reaction
Intellectualization with the
Formation Aggressor

Regression Rationalization Projection Sublimation

Pushing painful material out of consciousness

EXIT
Psychological Defense Mechanisms
Psychological defense mechanisms are distortions (actions)
that keep people psychologically stable.

Examples include: Click on a

Repression term to have it
defined.
Denial Displacement

Identification
Reaction
Intellectualization with the
Formation Aggressor

Regression Rationalization Projection Sublimation

Refusing to admit a problem exists

EXIT
Psychological Defense Mechanisms
Psychological defense mechanisms are distortions (actions)
that keep people psychologically stable.

Examples include: Click on a

Repression term to have it
defined.
Denial Displacement

Identification
Reaction
Intellectualization with the
Formation Aggressor

Regression Rationalization Projection Sublimation

Venting feelings on something not related to the frustration

EXIT
Psychological Defense Mechanisms
Psychological defense mechanisms are distortions (actions)
that keep people psychologically stable.

Examples include: Click on a

Repression term to have it
defined.
Denial Displacement

Identification
Reaction
Intellectualization with the
Formation Aggressor

Regression Rationalization Projection Sublimation

Expressing the opposite of what one feels

EXIT
Psychological Defense Mechanisms
Psychological defense mechanisms are distortions (actions)
that keep people psychologically stable.

Examples include: Click on a

Repression term to have it
defined.
Denial Displacement

Identification
Reaction
Intellectualization with the
Formation Aggressor

Regression Rationalization Projection Sublimation

Taking all feelings out of a frustrating situation

EXIT
Psychological Defense Mechanisms
Psychological defense mechanisms are distortions (actions)
that keep people psychologically stable.

Examples include: Click on a

Repression term to have it
defined.
Denial Displacement

Identification
Reaction
Intellectualization with the
Formation Aggressor

Regression Rationalization Projection Sublimation

Taking on a punishing person’s characteristics

EXIT
Psychological Defense Mechanisms
Psychological defense mechanisms are distortions (actions)
that keep people psychologically stable.

Examples include: Click on a

Repression term to have it
defined.
Denial Displacement

Identification
Reaction
Intellectualization with the
Formation Aggressor

Regression Rationalization Projection Sublimation

Moving backward and acting as a helpless child

EXIT
Psychological Defense Mechanisms
Psychological defense mechanisms are distortions (actions)
that keep people psychologically stable.

Examples include: Click on a

Repression term to have it
defined.
Denial Displacement

Identification
Reaction
Intellectualization with the
Formation Aggressor

Regression Rationalization Projection Sublimation

Explaining a situation to avoid responsibility

EXIT
Psychological Defense Mechanisms
Psychological defense mechanisms are distortions (actions)
that keep people psychologically stable.

Examples include: Click on a

Repression term to have it
defined.
Denial Displacement

Identification
Reaction
Intellectualization with the
Formation Aggressor

Regression Rationalization Projection Sublimation

Assigning to others our own thoughts and feelings

EXIT
Psychological Defense Mechanisms
Psychological defense mechanisms are distortions (actions)
that keep people psychologically stable.

Examples include: Click on a

Repression term to have it
defined.
Denial Displacement

Identification
Reaction
Intellectualization with the
Formation Aggressor

Regression Rationalization Projection Sublimation

Channeling emotional energy into

constructive or creative activity
EXIT