I.Overview

This module has been designed to help students understand the complex relationships among environmental variables, psychological processes and physical well-being. It also aims to provide students with a greater range of coping skills.
 

II.Learning Objectives

Reading Assignment: Lahey, 6th edition; Chapter 12
 

1. Describe the goals of health psychology and distinguish between stress & stressors (as explained in class) (p. 434)

2. Distinguish among the following types of conflict: approach- approach, avoidance-avoidance, approach-avoidance and multiple approach-avoidance (pp. 434-436)

3. Discuss the relationship between life events and stress (pp. 437-439)

4. Describe biological reactions that take place during stress, including the General Adaptation Syndrome (pp. 440-441)

5. Explain the interaction between stress and the immune system (pp. 442-443)

6. Describe four major factors that influence a person's reactions to stress (pp. 444-446)

7. Describe cognitive factors in stress reactions and distinguish between sensitizers and repressors  (pp. 446-447)

8. Identify the characteristics of the Type A personality and explain the relationship between Type A personality and heart disease (pp. 447-448)

9. Describe three effective methods of coping with stress  (pp. 450-451)

10. Describe three ineffective strategies of coping with stress (pp. 451-452)

11. Explain what defense mechanisms defend against and distinguish among the major defense mechanisms  (p. 452)

12. Describe the healthy life style choices that are associated with reduced stress (pp. 453-457)

 13. Summarize the role health psychology can play in the prevention and treatment of AIDS (pp. 460-462)
 

Preparation for this instructional unit

Distribute learning objectives for text assignment

Some suggested homework assignments before class

1) Have students read the chapter and write out answers for all objectives before class

2) Small group (4 students) assignment:

Each student is to read the chapter.   Two members of each group thoroughly master the odd numbered objectives and two members master the even numbered ones. Students who did the same objectives work together to be able to teach the other students the content for their objectives.

Put appropriate segment of the outline on the chalkboard

I. Definitions
    A. Stress - a psychobiological state
    B. Stressors - causal agents

(Show video segment - Managing Stress - 1st 5 min only)

(Begin constructing a concept map ...Constructing the map should be an interactive process)

II. Stress
    A. "Fight-or-flight response"
    B. General Adaptation Syndrome
    C. Stress and illness (make additions to concept map)
        1. Medical illnesses
        2. Psychological illnesses
    D. Think-Pair-Share
        (What are disadvantages and advantages of stress?)

III. Stressors (make additions to concept map)

    A. Life Changes
        (Distribute & discuss Student Stress Scale - Use Holmes and Rahe "Social Readjustment Rating Scale)
    B. Hassles
    C. Conflicts
        1. Approach-approach
        2. Avoidance-avoidance
        3. Approach-avoidance
        4. Multiple approach-avoidance

IV. Moderator Variables - factor influencing stress levels           (make additions to concept map)
    A. Interpretation
        Think-Pair-Share  (Demonstrate through example, how one's interpretation of an event can affect stress level)
    B. Resources
        1. Material resources
        2. Social supports
    C. Personality
        1. Sensitizer & Repressors
        2. Type A & Type B
            Hostility Questionnaire
    D. Predictability & Control
    E. Prior experience

V. Coping (make additions to concept map)
    A. Effective Coping Strategies
        1. Removing or reducing stressors
            a. "Attack" the problem
            b. Leave
            c. Compromise
        2. Cognitive coping
            a. Reappraisal
            b. Social Comparison
            c. Humor
        3. Managing bodily responses
            a. Exercise
            b. Diet and sleep
            c. Hypnosis, meditation, prayer
    B. Ineffective Coping Strategies
        1. Withdrawal through drugs or apathy
        2. Aggression
        3. Defense Mechanisms
                (Small groups complete worksheet  2)

VI. Wrap-up Activity
    A. Think-Pair-Share

(What is one thing that you learned in this unit that will be most important for you to still remember years from now?)

 1) Designing a Controlled Experiment:

Imagine that you are a psychologist who is very interested in helping people deal with the stress in their lives. Select a stressor that you believe is common in the lives of many Americans today. What do you think might be an effective coping strategy for dealing with the resulting stress?  Describe, in detail, a controlled experiment to test your hypothesis. In your description, be sure to:

State you hypothesis
Describe how the subjects will be selected
Identify the experimental group and the control group
Identify the independent variable and describe exactly what you will use
Identify the dependent variable and how it will be measured
Describe several precautions you will need to take to avoid biases in your results (i.e. confounding variables)
If the results of your experiment show no difference between the two groups, what other variations might you try before concluding that the hypothesis was probably incorrect?

Think about a time during the past year that you experienced a lot of stress. With this in mind, respond to the following:

Describe how you felt
Identify the stressor(s)
Discuss any moderator variables that either decreased or increased the effects that this stressor had on you
Describe the coping strategy(ies) you used.
Given your new knowledge about coping strategies, discuss some things that you might have done differently
Discuss whether or not there was any advantage to the stress that you experienced during this time.

a. Describe 6 stress concepts demonstrated in the film - describe the concept and then describe the relevant parts of the film (you might provide an example to help students).

b. Conrad was stressed! Write a 300 word essay describing major stressors and daily hassles

Keep a diary for a week which lists your major stressors, daily hassles, and your responses to each. At the end of the week write a one page essay with this topic:  How might I use ideas from this chapter to reduce my stress as a college student?

Textbook
Lahey, B. Psychology: an Introduction, 6th ed. McGraw- Hill, 1998.

Video Segment
Managing Stress, 1989. CRM Films, 2215 Farraday Ave., Carlsbad, CA 92008.
 

Hostility Questionnaire
Redford, W. & Redford, V. Anger Kills: seventeen strategies for controlling the hostility that can harm your health, Random House, N.Y., 1993.

Jim Bell, Ph.D
Howard Community College
10901 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, MD 21044
410-772-4897
jbell@ccm.howardcc.edu
 
 

Ronald Boykin, Ph.D.
Social Sciences and Public Services
Northern Virginia Community College
3001 N. Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311
703-845-6223
nvboykr@nv.cc.va.us
 

Diane Daniel, PhD.
Psychology Department
Montgomery College
20200 Observation Drive
Germantown, MD 20876
301-353-7759
adaniel@erols.com
 
 

Worksheet 2

MECHANISMS OF DEFENSE

 REPRESSION,  PROJECTION,  DENIAL,  RATIONALIZATION,  REACTION FORMATION  DISPLACEMENT,  SUBLIMATION

Identify the defense mechanism being used in each of the following statements or situations: