Transactional model of stress and coping
The transactional model of stress and coping, developed by Richard S. Lazarus and Susan Folkman in 1984, is a psychological framework that examines how individuals perceive and respond to stressors in their environment. This model posits that stress arises not merely from external events but from the interactions between individuals and their surroundings. Central to the model is the process of appraisal, where individuals evaluate whether a situation is a threat or a challenge based on their available resources. Primary appraisal involves determining if an event is harmful, while secondary appraisal assesses one's ability to cope with the perceived threat.
Coping strategies are classified into two main types: problem-focused coping, which seeks to address the stressor directly, and emotion-focused coping, which aims to alleviate distress. The model recognizes that coping responses may evolve over time as individuals reappraise their situations, highlighting the dynamic nature of stress management. Ultimately, the transactional model illustrates how cognitive evaluations shape emotional responses and influence behavior, offering valuable insights into the complexities of stress and coping mechanisms across diverse contexts.
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Transactional model of stress and coping
The transactional model of stress and coping is a theory in psychology that focuses on how people feel about their environment as they deal with stress and the ways they choose to cope. According to the model, stress does not occur from an event but from the transaction, or interactions, between people and their environment. Stress results when the demands people face outnumber the resources they have at their disposal to address those demands. People use the process of appraisal, or self-evaluation, to determine whether a situation is stressful. Coping refers to the cognitive and behavioral methods that people employ to manage stress. The transactional model of stress and coping provided a critical boost in the field of cognitive psychology, the study of mental processes. The model emphasizes the key role of appraisal in shaping people's behavior and emotions.
Overview
The transactional model of stress and coping was conceived by psychologists Richard S. Lazarus and Susan Folkman in 1984. The theory asserts that an event by itself is not a stressor. Instead, the event is considered to be a stressor only after a person has appraised it as harmful or threatening within the limits of the environment.
According to Lazarus and Folkman, the three types of appraisals are primary appraisal, secondary appraisal, and reappraisal. In primary appraisal, a person judges whether an event or situation poses a threat or challenge. If the demands are greater than the resources available, the individual may perceive the situation as threatening or harmful. Therefore, the event is a stressor. If the resources at hand are greater than the demands, then the situation may be considered a challenge and potentially beneficial. Therefore, the event is not a stressor.
If the situation is deemed a threat, then secondary appraisal kicks in. During secondary appraisal, people evaluate their own capacity to deal with the stressor and analyze which coping mechanisms would be most effective. Coping techniques include avoiding, diminishing, changing, or accepting a stressful situation.
Reappraisal is repeatedly evaluating and modifying the perceptions made during primary appraisal or secondary appraisal. In an ongoing situation, the perceived threat may later be construed as a challenge. In time, the stressor may be considered harmless or irrelevant. Alternatively, challenges may grow stressful and become threats over time.
The appraisal process determines an individual's coping strategies. Coping techniques can be problem-focused or emotion-focused.
Problem-focused coping is dealing with the problem or stressor directly. Problem-focused coping involves using problem-solving skills to remove or minimize the stressor from the environment. This includes devising solutions, weighing the pros and cons, and taking action.
Emotion-focused coping is aimed at minimizing the distress that often accompanies stress. Emotion-focused coping covers a broad range of strategies. People may distance themselves, place blame, vent to others, exercise, or meditate. People are more likely to seek out emotion-focused coping over problem-focused coping to deal with situations that cannot be changed.
Through the transactional model of stress and coping, the appraisal process demonstrates how thoughts shape feelings and, in turn, how feelings shape thoughts and behaviors. The determination of a threat can lead to sadness, anxiety, fear, and anger—emotions associated with stress. These emotions influence people to choose coping techniques to manage their stress.
Bibliography
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