Responses to stress

The work of Lazarus and Folkman has strongly influenced our thinking around stress since the mid-1980s (Biggs et al., 2017). Called the "transactional theory of stress and coping", the idea is that we have two way "transactions between an individual and their environment; therefore, it is neither the individual nor the environment alone that produces stress but a complex transaction between the two" (Biggs et al., 2017, p. 351). When we become stressed, our "reaction is influenced by" a "cognitive process through which" we ascribe[ meaning] to events/stimuli" (Biggs et al., 2017, p. 352). Our stress response is a reaction to perceived harm of some type (Biggs et al., 2017). Lazarus and Folkman appear to have focused their research on two key elements: those who manage stress via doing; and those who manage stress via emotional regulation (Biggs et al., 2017).

At the 2023 Cannexus presentation by Borgen et al., William Borgen spoke briefly about how we respond to stress, exploring a triple reaction theory (2023, 13:43), drawing on the work of Lazarus and Folkman, where we tend to do one of three things, to: get task-oriented and deal with our source of stress; get emotional about it; or become passive and ignore it, as follows:

1. "Problem-Focused Coping: Dealing directly with and acting on the source of the stress" (Borgen et al., 2023, 13:43; emphasis added). In this situation, our "coping is process-oriented and dynamic, rather than trait-based", involving "conscious, purposeful actions employed" when we perceive a 'harmful' stressful situation, and we take action to "directly manage the stress" (Biggs et al., 2017, p. 353). Then we check to see if our strategy worked, or "cognitive reappraisal" (Biggs et al., 2017). This is considered a "Type A" response (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984, p. 122).
2. "Emotion-Focused Coping: Dealing with and controlling their stressful feelings and emotions" (Borgen et al., 2023, 13:43; emphasis added). Here too, where we perceive a 'harmful' stressful situation, we act to "regulate emotions arising as a consequence of the stress" (Biggs et al., 2017, p. 353). While emotional coping seems to be considered a "maladaptive" strategy - if it works, why not? - we act, then again pause to check for effectiveness (Biggs et al., 2017, p. 354).
3. "Avoidance-Focused Coping: Passively avoiding having to deal with underlying source of stress" (Borgen et al., 2023, 13:43; emphasis added). There is a time component, which - I think - has us thinking about whether we need to do something NOW, or if we can postpone it: "future-oriented coping [or] avoidance coping" (Biggs et al., 2017, p. 358), or "denial" (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984, p. 138) or "automatized adaptive" behaviours (p. 140). Postponing coping strategies long-term is not considered ideal (Biggs et al., 2017).

Something I find fascinating about how Borgen et al. (2023) presented Lazarus and Folkman's work is how much it appears to shadow the behavioural work of the Iowa Studies, headed by Kurt Lewin. The researchers found that there were three behaviours of leaders: that of autocracy where a leader centralises authority, deriving power from their position, control of rewards, and coercion; democracy, where a leader delegates authority to others, encourages participation, relies on staff knowledge to get tasks complete, where influence comes from staff respect, and favours empowerment; and laissez faire where a leader is largely hands-off, MIA, and staff get on with the job according to their own lights and goals (Daft, 2008; Jackson & Parry, 2018).

Is it just me who sees that?

Sam

References:

Biggs, A., Brough, P., & Drummond, S. (2017). Chapter 21: Lazarus and Folkman’s Psychological Stress and Coping Theory. In. C. L. Cooper, J. C. Quick (Eds.), The Handbook of Stress and Health: A Guide to Research and Practice (1st ed., pp x-x). John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Borgen, W., Luke, J., & Borgen, R. (2023). Older Workers: Well-being and Career Engagement [video]. CANNEXUS23 Conference. https://cannexus23.gtr.pathable.com/meetings/virtual/xdLoCLMG2xzHy8q2o

Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. Springer Publishing Company.

Daft, R. L., (2008). The Leadership Experience (4th ed.). Thomson-South Western.

Jackson, B., & Parry K. (2018). A very short, fairly interesting and reasonably cheap book about studying leadership (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications Ltd.