Understanding and Managing People
Name:
Student Number:
Date: 29 April 2021
Word Count: 1502 words
, This essay aims to identify and expand on a range of concepts and theories related to
individuals’ behaviour within different organisations. Furthermore, the essay will focus on
aspects of stress and how managerial positions in various industries can control
psychological wellbeing in the workplace. According to Mullins (2019), stress is a complex
and dynamic abstraction. It is a possible source of tension and frustration, which can arise
through several interlinking factors on behaviour including group, individual, organisational
and environmental factors. As Neil (1994) states, stress is not what happens but how
individuals perceive the situation. There are many potential causes of stress within the
workplace, and this essay will elaborate on each feature. MedlinePlus (2016) states that,
stress is the body’s reaction to a challenge or demand. For instance, the body’s flight or fight
response during pressured circumstances. During moments of fight or flight, attention is not
focused on managing or resolving stress; instead, it is focused on fleeing the stressful
situation (Plaford, 2013). Although the flight or fight response is commonly identified as a
negative, it can also be a positive as it helps the individual respond quickly during times of
need (Mental Health Foundation, 2018). However, high volumes of stress can cause
negative effects and leave an individual in a permanent state of flight or fight, increasing the
likelihood of long-term physical and mental impairments (Mental Health Foundation, 2018).
To conclude, the essay will summarise the key findings described in the assignment.
It must be emphasised that the word stress is extensive because there are many different
types of stress that individuals may experience at some point during their lifetime. There are
four different types of stress: distress, eustress, hyperstress and hypostress. Firstly focusing
on distress, which is defined as a psychological discomfort that has progressed from an
individual’s perception caused by an adverse event (Study.com, 2019). To demonstrate this,
an example of an adverse event within a workplace could be the cause of unfair treatment,
lack of training or conflicts with supervisors or colleagues. Moreover, there are two
classifications of distress, acute and chronic stress. According to Scott (2021), acute stress
is the least damaging reaction to an immediate perceived threat, either physical, emotional
or psychological. Scott (2021) explains that, an individual will experience acute stress
multiple times a day for a short period of time. Nevertheless, chronic stress is a long term
feeling of stress caused by everyday pressures and can affect every system in the body,
either directly or indirectly (Scott, 2020). In spite of the fact that distress negatively impacts
the body, eustress is considered the opposite. As specified by Lindberg (2019), eustress is a
product of nerves produced when faced with achievable challenges. Genovese (2018) said,
eustress helps an individual stay motivated, work towards goals and feel good about life.
Additional types of stress are hyperstress and hypostress. Kholghi (2020) states that,
hyperstress occurs when an individual is challenged beyond their capability, negatively
impacting most areas of their life, including work, relationships, social life health. However,
hypostress is the emotion felt when an individual has a bored, understimulating, or
unchallenging job (Kholghi, 2020). He proposes that, hypostress may not be damaging to
the health in the short-term but in the long-term may impact motivation, physical health and
performance within other aspects of life. An organisation that causes employees to feel
hyperstress and hypostress is Amazon. Guendelsberger (2019) states that, employees were
treated like robots and became overworked, so there was no opportunity for their minds to
wander off task. This would cause workers to become over-stimulated with stress, and they
may become unable to reduce the feeling of anxiety during their own time.
Name:
Student Number:
Date: 29 April 2021
Word Count: 1502 words
, This essay aims to identify and expand on a range of concepts and theories related to
individuals’ behaviour within different organisations. Furthermore, the essay will focus on
aspects of stress and how managerial positions in various industries can control
psychological wellbeing in the workplace. According to Mullins (2019), stress is a complex
and dynamic abstraction. It is a possible source of tension and frustration, which can arise
through several interlinking factors on behaviour including group, individual, organisational
and environmental factors. As Neil (1994) states, stress is not what happens but how
individuals perceive the situation. There are many potential causes of stress within the
workplace, and this essay will elaborate on each feature. MedlinePlus (2016) states that,
stress is the body’s reaction to a challenge or demand. For instance, the body’s flight or fight
response during pressured circumstances. During moments of fight or flight, attention is not
focused on managing or resolving stress; instead, it is focused on fleeing the stressful
situation (Plaford, 2013). Although the flight or fight response is commonly identified as a
negative, it can also be a positive as it helps the individual respond quickly during times of
need (Mental Health Foundation, 2018). However, high volumes of stress can cause
negative effects and leave an individual in a permanent state of flight or fight, increasing the
likelihood of long-term physical and mental impairments (Mental Health Foundation, 2018).
To conclude, the essay will summarise the key findings described in the assignment.
It must be emphasised that the word stress is extensive because there are many different
types of stress that individuals may experience at some point during their lifetime. There are
four different types of stress: distress, eustress, hyperstress and hypostress. Firstly focusing
on distress, which is defined as a psychological discomfort that has progressed from an
individual’s perception caused by an adverse event (Study.com, 2019). To demonstrate this,
an example of an adverse event within a workplace could be the cause of unfair treatment,
lack of training or conflicts with supervisors or colleagues. Moreover, there are two
classifications of distress, acute and chronic stress. According to Scott (2021), acute stress
is the least damaging reaction to an immediate perceived threat, either physical, emotional
or psychological. Scott (2021) explains that, an individual will experience acute stress
multiple times a day for a short period of time. Nevertheless, chronic stress is a long term
feeling of stress caused by everyday pressures and can affect every system in the body,
either directly or indirectly (Scott, 2020). In spite of the fact that distress negatively impacts
the body, eustress is considered the opposite. As specified by Lindberg (2019), eustress is a
product of nerves produced when faced with achievable challenges. Genovese (2018) said,
eustress helps an individual stay motivated, work towards goals and feel good about life.
Additional types of stress are hyperstress and hypostress. Kholghi (2020) states that,
hyperstress occurs when an individual is challenged beyond their capability, negatively
impacting most areas of their life, including work, relationships, social life health. However,
hypostress is the emotion felt when an individual has a bored, understimulating, or
unchallenging job (Kholghi, 2020). He proposes that, hypostress may not be damaging to
the health in the short-term but in the long-term may impact motivation, physical health and
performance within other aspects of life. An organisation that causes employees to feel
hyperstress and hypostress is Amazon. Guendelsberger (2019) states that, employees were
treated like robots and became overworked, so there was no opportunity for their minds to
wander off task. This would cause workers to become over-stimulated with stress, and they
may become unable to reduce the feeling of anxiety during their own time.
