How Stress Is One Of The Pathways Through Which Social Status Gets Under The Skinss

This assignment will explore the concept of stress by firstly distinguishing between the definitions set out by Selye 919560 and Cox (1976). Following this assignment will critically evaluate the General Adaption Syndrome, SRRS and Daily Hassles explanations of stress and finally, conclude with a discussion on individual differences based on Friedman and Rosenman’s research.

“Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances”. It is generally known as “pattern of disruptive physiological and psychological reaction to events that threaten the ability to cope” (Oxford Living Dictionaries, 2017).

Stress is defined as an automatic physical response to any stimulus that requires you to adjust to change.¹

The misuse of the word stress occurs quite often between the members of the lower socioeconomic class. Recently the American Psychological Association conducted a nationwide survey to see how America is doing with its stress levels. The American Psychological Association came to the conclusion that the bulk of people encounter stress under the following conditions: loss of money, work (if employed), family responsibilities and health concerns. (“American Psychological Association Survey… NP). Members of the lower socioeconomic class very commonly fail to realize that stress is not only what makes things go wrong but, also what saves one’s life on occasions. Many people work better under pressure, what they don’t know is that they perform better because of how stressed they are to complete a certain assignment. The expectations one’s boss or teacher has for one on an assignment also turns into stress and helps one perform better. Members of higher classes realize this because they are able to afford therapists that help them analyze the root causes of their health. Members belonging to the higher classes also have proper methods of stress relief such as socializing with friends, listening to music and exercising. Rather than using the same or similar methods of stress relief, members of the lower socioeconomic class tend to smoke, drink alcohol and watch excessive amounts of television (Miller, NP). When members of the lower socioeconomic class misinterpret stress and engage in bad stress relief methods it results in more

What is Stress? Stress is not a new phenomenon; it has been experienced throughout history. Stress is a biological response to some stimulus. Fear, panic, anger, tragedy, and even something as simple as being competitive can

According to the functionalist perspective, illness has a legitimate place in society. The first sociological theory of illness addresses how individuals are expected to act and to be treated while sick was offered by Talcott Parsons. These behaviors explain Parsons’s theory of the sick role. The sick role is defined has having four parts. In the first, sick people are excused from fulfilling their normal social role. Illness allows them to be excused from work, from chores around the house, or even from attending class! Second, sick people are not held responsible for the illness. The flu that’s going around is no one’s fault, so you aren’t personally blamed if you catch it (although your roommates may blame you if they catch what you have).

Stress is something everyone goes through no matter what age, gender or race you are. Stress is the experience of a perceived threat to one’s mental, physical or spiritual well-being, resulting from a series of physiological responses and adaptations. When people think of stress they think it’s a bad thing which isn’t true, some stress is just your body’s reaction to certain situations. At times it may seem like stress is taking over your body leaving you physically, emotionally and mentally hurt but what you can do is learn how to manage your stress to have a healthier and happy lifestyle. Stress management is learning to deal with your stress and take charge. There are three types of stresses which are eustress, distress and neustress.

Evans (2013) mentions that poverty is a factor that can change ones life for a lifetime. Physical heath is an outcome that takes plenty of various types of development processes. The author discusses chronic stress as a disadvange to the health process.

The ultimate gatekeeper of sick role would be the doctor. They provide the necessary establishment of social control or play the role of an ethical care giver in society, using their authority to differentiate between normality and ‘deviance’ in social systems. Therefore preserving social order is the foundation of functionalists’ postulates on the specifics of illness and medical circumstance, with medicine being the essential mechanism to govern the possibly disturbing manifestations of

     First, stress is defined as an unpleasant state of emotional and physiological arousal that people experience in situations that they perceive as dangerous or threatening to their well being (Patel, 14). Stress is a universal feeling to everyone but the word stress means different things to

For the past nineteen years of my precious life, I experienced stress at least once. Whether it was distress or eustress. The various stressful situations influenced me to cope in different ways. Coping is defined to be a response by which individuals alter their cognition and behaviors to manage stressful situations that exceed their resources (Lazarus & Folkman as cited in Frydenbergg, 2014).

So what is stress? Stress is a normal physical response that happens when you feel threatened or upset. When you feel that you are in danger whether it is real or imaged. Your body has a response when stress occurs and it is a way of actually protecting you. Many times, stress helps people stay more focussed and energetic.

Social class is an extremely important factor in the amount of social stress an individual endures. Individuals lowering on the societal level of hierarchy endure more social issues including mental, emotional, and social discrimination. Social hierarchy is also attributable to levels of mortality and declines in health. Individuals on higher levels of social hierarchy have lower levels of mortality, lower levels of disease and lower levels of stress, while individuals on the lower levels of social hierarchy experience higher mortality rates, high levels of stress and more health challenges (Phelan, Link, & Tehranifer, 2015). This is due to the individuals’ role in society. Those on higher levels of social hierarchy have more access to healthcare and good social influences. Those on lower levels of hierarchy often times cannot afford adequate healthcare and are often placed in areas with negative social influences, attributing to higher levels of stress and mortality due to homicide rates (Phelan, Link, & Tehranifer, 2015). Social stress ultimately acquires higher levels in those who are on lower levels of social hierarchy.

Stress is the response to environmental factors, the circumstances and events that threaten individuals and tax their coping abilities. A stressor is a chemical or biological agent, environmental condition, external stimulus or an event that causes stress to an organism.

The functionalist theory considers society as a complex system of interrelated parts that are organized in a manner to maintain its stability. Alongside social stability, maintenance of consensus and solidarity is integral to the proposition of this theory. Societal institution comprising of family, education and economy serve crucial functions for operating the societal norms. Smooth functioning of society is dependent upon various factors that share the responsibility of controlling the factors that lead to sickness thereby limiting the performance of the societal functions effectively (Healy, 2014). Hence from the functionalist perspective the stability and functionality of the society is to be ensured through proper measures taken in terms of treating an ill patient. Sociologist Talcott Parsons depicted the behavior specific to a person who is recognized to be sick. The person who is suffering from an illness is under the obligation of recovering from his condition due to certain responsibilities entrusted on him or her in the outside world. In this regard professional assistance and appropriate therapeutic interventions are sought from competent authorities to