How we change what others think, feel, believe and do

Stress

Stress is a part of the human condition, a gift from nature to help keep us motivated. Sometimes, however, we get too much of it. In yourself and in changing minds, managing stress is a key activity.

Causes of stress: including threats, dissonance and stress at work.
Coping Mechanisms: Many ways in which we handle stress.
Symptoms of stress: including emotional/cognitive and physical.
Stress costs: It's an expensive thing!
General Adaptation Syndrome: The body's attempts at managing stress can eventually kill it.
Fight-or-Flight reaction: When threatened, we may flee or attack.
Satisficing: In stress, any solution will do.
Satir's stress responders: Five types of people who respond in different ways.
Transactional Model of Stress: Perception makes the difference.
Tension principle: The general use of stress in persuasion.
Yerkes-Dodson Law: Stress and performance.

Interestingly, the Chinese for 'stress' is written with two characters. The first is 'danger' and the next is 'opportunity'. This highlights that stress is not all bad and that benefits can be gained from using felt pressure.

So what?

First, manage your own stress. Listen to your body. Spot the symptoms. Then find ways of reducing it. Relax, exercise, eat well. When you are feeing stressed, take a break. Under excessive stress, you are not at your best -- in fact you are near your worst. A bit of stress is ok, but too much is very bad for you.

Stress is also a key tool in persuasion, and creating tension happens in virtually all persuasive situations. The trick is to manage that stress: too much and the person will crack. Too little and they will not change.

Stress

So what?

See also