Characteristics of Stressors

Stressors are events or situations that produce stress in a person. They have some common characteristics that influence how strongly they affect us.

(a) Overload

• Stressors can become so strong that the person cannot cope effectively.
• Example: death of a spouse or only child.

(b) Conflict (approach–avoidance)

• The same situation can create opposite tendencies: to approach and to avoid.
• Example: seeing a thief – wanting to catch him while also staying safe.

(c) Uncontrollability

• Some stressors are beyond personal control (e.g., death of a close person).
• Situations that can be predicted or controlled feel less dangerous and less stressful than those that cannot.

Psychosomatic disorders

• Physical illnesses are influenced by stress and emotions.
• Examples: hypertension, heart problems, asthma, diabetes, ulcers, migraine, eczema, and low back pain.
• Exam stress can increase minor illnesses like fever, stomach problems, coughs, and colds.
• Long‑lasting stress harms physical health and also disturbs thinking, emotions, and behaviour.

• Stress can trigger different main bodily reaction patterns in different people.
• Stomach reactors: show strong digestive reactions; more prone to peptic ulcers.
• Pulse (cardiovascular) reactors: show marked changes in pulse and blood pressure; more prone to hypertension.
• Nose (respiratory) reactors: show nasal/respiratory reactions under stress.

• Alexander suggested that each psychological conflict type is linked with a specific disorder.
• Example: peptic ulcers linked with stress from unmet needs for love and protection.
• Later research did not fully support strict one‑to‑one links.
• Now it is accepted that many stresses can lead to the same disorder, and one stress type can lead to different disorders in different people.

• Intense stressors can lead to overload, making coping difficult.
• Stress can cause conflict, especially when a situation has both positive and negative aspects (approach–avoidance).
• Uncontrollable and unpredictable stressors feel more threatening.
• Chronic stress is linked to psychosomatic disorders like hypertension, ulcers, asthma, migraine, and skin issues.
• Wolff identified different reactor types (e.g., stomach, pulse, nose) based on individual physical stress responses.
• Alexander's one-to-one stress-disease links are not widely accepted; stress–illness connections are more complex and vary by individual.