Describe each phase of Hans Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome.Name two workplace stressors and give an example of each.

________ __________ is the regulation of feelings and expressions for organizational purposes.

(Emotional labor)

138. When a person pretends to experience emotions he does not feel, he is engaging in _________.

(deep acting)

139. The mismatch between emotions, attitudes, beliefs and behavior is ______ ____________.

(cognitive dissonance)

140. The subject of __________ ____________, examined by Daniel Goleman, looks at how people can understand each other more completely by becoming more aware of their own and others’ emotions.

(emotional intelligence)

SHORT ANSWERS

141. Define stress and briefly discuss its prevalence in the workplace.

Stress is the body’s reaction to a change that requires a physical, mental, or emotional adjustment or response. Today, stress is inevitable and everywhere. While we can’t change stress, we can change the manner in which we respond to it.

Polls indicate that 80% of American workers report experiencing stress in the workplace at least some of the time. Stress in the workplace is manifested through such physical effects as neck pain, aching muscles and insomnia.

142. Describe each phase of Hans Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome.

Phase one is the alarm phase where an outside stressor jolts the individual insisting that something be done. This is the well- known “fight or flight” response.  

Resistance is the phase where the body begins to release cortisol and draws on fats and sugars for energy to adjust to the demands of stress. While the body can draw on its reserves to hold off stress for a while, it cannot continue in this state forever.

Phase three is the exhaustion phase where the body’s stores of fats and sugars are depleted and the prolonged release of cortisol has weakened the body considerably. To cope, many individuals reach for something sweet to restore the sugars.

143. Name two workplace stressors and give an example of each.

Workplace stressors include: role demands (role ambiguity, role overload, role conflict), and information overload.

Role ambiguity is the vagueness one feels about what responsibilities he holds. For example, when you begin a new job, you are often unclear what you are supposed to do.

Role conflict is when you have contradictory demands made on you at work. For example, your boss wants you to complete your project for next week while your team supervisor wants his project completed first.

Role overload is when you have insufficient time and resources to complete your job. For example, if you are doing your job and covering for an individual who is out on medical leave, you may feel pulled in many directions.

Information overload is simply the processing demands made on individuals where the time required to complete the tasks far exceeds the amount of time actually available. The number of emails many individuals receive in one day often far exceeds the amount of time available for responding.

144. Name two life stressors and give examples of each.

Life stressors include:  work-family conflict, life changes, and downsizing.

Work-family conflict is experienced when the demands from work and family negatively impact one another. An example is when you need to attend a work function and you have sick child at home to care for.

Life changes are events that stress an individual. Life changes can be negative (the death of a spouse) or positive (getting married). Though each produces stress, the negative event produces distress and the positive events, eustress. The Holmes-Rahe Scale provides various life events with values that express the stress experienced.  

Downsizing is when firms decide to become smaller often through physical, product and employee means. Currently, many firms are downsizing to stay competitive in the worsening economy.