Transactional model of stress

Emotion-focused coping

involves efforts to deal with/reduce the emotional response to the stressor such as fear, anxiety, depression, embarrassment, excitement and frustration

Problem-focused coping

involves efforts to manage or change the cause or source of the stress i.e. the stressor. It targets the source/causes of stress in practical ways,

secondary appraisal

is an appraisal of the resources available for meeting the potential threat (e.g. your running ability, traffic volume and flow that may preclude a quick road cross);

According to the transactional model of stress

stress involves an encounter ('transaction') between an individual and their external environment; stress is a function of a discrepancy between perceived demands of a situation/event and the person's resources for meeting those demands; this means that the person's psychological appraisal (interpretation/perception) of the situation and of the coping resources are critical for determining whether the person experiences stress and shows a stress response

primary appraisal

is the first appraisal of the potential threat primary appraisal results in a decision about whether the stressor is (a) irrelevant (b) benign-positive or (c) stressful if it is deemed stressful, the person then engages in additional appraisals: harm-loss, or how much damage as already occurred threat, or expectation of future harm and challenge or opportunity for growth

Coping

is the process of constantly changing cognitive and behavioural efforts to manage specific internal and/or external stressors that are appraised as taxing or exceeding the resources of the person

Limitations of model

the model is difficult to test through experimental research because of the subjective nature, variability and complexity of individual responses to stressful experiences primary and secondary appraisals can interact with one another and are often undertaken simultaneously not sequentially as the model suggests it is questionable whether we really need to cognitively and consciously 'appraise' something in order to have a stress response.

Strengths of model

emphasises the importance of cognitive appraisal in determining the stress response; emphasises the 'active' role individuals have in the stress process as opposed to the 'passive' one they play according to physiological models emphasises the personal and individual nature of cognitive appraisal and this helps explain why different individuals respond in different ways to the same types of stressors the inclusion of a 'reappraisal' process allows for the fact that stressors and the circumstances under which they occur can change over time the inclusion of 'coping' methods has enhanced understanding of the importance of stress-management strategies.

As a result of secondary appraisal

engage in reappraisal, meaning that they search for new appraisals of the stressor or new resources that would decrease the discrepancy; use either problem-focused coping (which involves efforts to manage or change the cause or source of the stressor) or emotion-focused coping (which involves strategies to attend to our emotional responses to the stressor) strategies that would decrease the discrepancy; decide their coping resources are inadequate and therefore experience 'stress' and experience a stress response.