Social Psychological Explanations – A Level Psychology Eduqas Revision

The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) was developed by Holmes and Rahe as a way to measure the amount of stress a person experiences.
The SRRS rates different life events based on the degree of readjustment required, translating this into ‘life change units’.
Major life changes such as divorce or job loss often score highly on the SRRS due to the significant psychological adjustment they necessitate.
It’s proposed that those with higher scores on the SRRS are more likely to develop stress-related illnesses.

The Transactional Model of Stress, developed by Lazarus and Folkman, views stress as the consequence of a person’s perception of events, rather than the events themselves.
Therefore, this model emphasizes the person’s cognitive appraisal of the stressor and their coping resources.
Lazarus and Folkman proposed two types of appraisals: primary appraisal, where one considers the extent of potential harm or threat, and secondary appraisal, where one assesses their ability to cope with such threat.
It’s this personal interpretation and coping abilities that can produce feelings of stress.

Social support is seen as a key buffer against stress and can take the form of emotional, informational, or tangible support.
Emotional support, such as empathy and understanding, can help manage the emotional responses to stress.
Informational support, such as advice and guidance, helps individuals understand and manage stressors.
Tangible support, like financial assistance, can help to reduce the practical burdens of a stressor.
Research suggests that having strong social support networks can reduce the perceived intensity of a stressor and mitigate its impact on mental and physical health.

Socioeconomic status has been shown to significantly impact the level of stress an individual experiences, with lower socioeconomic groups reporting higher levels of stress.
Stressors associated with low socioeconomic status can include job insecurity, low salary, and poor working conditions.
Work-related stress can also arise from high levels of responsibility, long working hours, and conflictual relationships at work.
Chronic exposure to these stressors can negatively impact an individual’s physical and mental health.

Cultural factors can have a significant impact on stress perception and coping strategies.
Some cultures may promote a collective approach to stress management, emphasizing the importance of social support and community.
On the other hand, other cultural contexts may encourage a more individualistic coping style, focusing on personal resilience and self-reliance.
These cultural differences can significantly shape one’s experience and handling of stress.

Social Psychological Explanations of Stress