Meeting Life Challenges | Class 12 Psychology Notes

Types of Stress

Stress can be categorized into three major types: physical and environmental, psychological, and social stress, which often overlap. Physical stress arises from bodily demands like overexertion, injury, or lack of sleep. Environmental stress includes unavoidable factors such as noise, pollution, crowding, and natural disasters like earthquakes or floods. Psychological stress originates internally, involving worries, anxiety, frustration, conflicts, and internal or social pressures. Frustration occurs when needs or goals are blocked, for example, low grades or social discrimination. Conflicts arise from incompatible motives or values, such as choosing between career options. Internal pressures stem from unrealistic self-expectations, while social pressures come from demands by others or interpersonal difficulties. Social stress results from interactions with others, including family illness, strained relationships, or social events. The experience of social stress varies by personality; for example, attending parties may be stressful for introverts but enjoyable for extroverts.

📊 Diagram: Fig.3.2 : A General Model of the Stress Process

🔗 Connection: This section leads to exploring the specific sources of stress, such as life events, hassles, and traumatic events.