CH.

14: Stress & Health

FRQ #2

A classmate argues that “the best way to handle stress is to work harder and meet life’s

challenges head-on.” Evaluate both the strengths and weaknesses of your classmate’s

position.

Everyone follows a stress response system. Walter Cannon defined a “fight or flight”

reaction which describes our brain’s response, accompanied by the sympathetic nervous system,

to stress. Our dual response system will secrete the stress hormone cortisol into our bodies.

Selye Found the general adaptation syndrome in which they body’s adaptive response

comes in three stages, alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. The classmate’s arguments advocates

for action in a stressful situation.

An advantage of this theory is that when a person who takes action, will likely take

control. When we perceive a loss of control, we become vulnerable to ill health; evidence from

research shows that when anyone has more control, the longer they’ll live. Thus, controlling and

taking action towards stress will provide some positive benefits.

The disadvantages of this argument are that, meeting stress “head on” is a typical of a

Type A personality. Friedman and Rosenman conducted a nine year study where they

interviewed men on their working and eating habits. They labeled those who were impatient,

verbally aggressive, and anger prone to be Type A; others who were easygoing and relaxed, Type

B. Further research from Friedman and Rosenman proved differences in susceptibility from

diseases between Type A and Type B personalities and also linked one’s personality to coronary
heart disease (the clogging of the vessels that nourish the heart muscle; the leading cause of

death in many developed countries). For instance, Friedman and Rosenman’s studies found that

Type A people may be more prone to heart disease because such individuals smoke more, sleep

less, drink more caffeine, and are more likely to react to challenges. Recent studies also show

that the core of Type A personality emotions are usually negative, Over decades pessimists were

twice as likely as optimists to develop heart disease.

Friedman and Rosenman’s studies show how meeting problems head on and being too

aggressive in general can lash back at one’s own health.