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==Predictability and controllability==
When individuals are informed about events before they occur, the magnitude of the stressor is less than when compared to individuals who were not informed of the stressor.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Grillon | first1 = C. | last2 = Baas | first2 = J. P. | last3 = Lissen | first3 = S. | last4 = Smith | first4 = K. | last5 = Milstein | first5 = J. | year = 2004 | title = Anxious responses to predictable and unpredictable aversive events | journal = Behavioral Neuroscience | volume = 118 | issue = 5| pages = 916–924 | doi=10.1037/0735-7044.118.5.916| pmid = 15506874 | s2cid = 12907188 }}</ref> For example, an individual would prefer to know when they have a deadline ahead of time in order to prepare for it in advance, rather than find out about the deadline the day of. In knowing that there is a deadline ahead of time, the intensity of the stressor is smaller for the individual, as opposed to the magnitude of intensity for the other unfortunate individual who found out about the deadline the day of. When this was tested, psychologists found that when given the choice, individuals had a preference for the predictable stressors, rather than the unpredictable stressors.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Lejuez | first1 = C. W. | last2 = Eifert | first2 = G. H. | last3 = Zvolensky | first3 = M. J. | last4 = Richards | first4 = J. B. | year = 2000 | title = Preference between onset predictable and unpredictable administrations of 20 percent carbon-dioxide-enriched air: Implications for better understanding the etiology and treatment of panic disorder | journal = Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied | volume = 6 | issue = 4 | pages = 349–358 | doi=10.1037/1076-898x.6.4.349| pmid = 11218343 }}</ref> The pathology caused by the lack of predictability is seen in occupations in [[emergency medicine]], [[Military|military defense]], and [[disaster response]] to name a few.
Additionally, the degree to which the stressor can be controlled plays a variable in how the individual perceives stress.<ref name=":0" /> Research has found that if an individual is able to take some control over the stressor, then the level of stress will be decreased. During this study, it was found that the individuals become increasingly anxious and distressed if they were unable to control their environment.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Zvolensky | first1 = M. J. | last2 = Eifert | first2 = G. H. | last3 = Lejuez | first3 = C. W. | year = 2001 | title = Offset control during recurrent 20 percent carbon-dioxide- enriched air induction: Relation to individual difference variables | journal = Emotion | volume = 1 | issue = 2| pages = 148–165 | doi=10.1037/1528-3542.1.2.148| pmid = 12899194 }}</ref> As an example, imagine an individual who detests baths in the Middle Ages, taking a bath. If the individual was forced to take the bath with no control over the temperature of the bath (one of the variables), then their anxiety and stress levels would be higher than if the individual was given some control over the environment (such as being able to control the temperature of the water).
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