ASSUMPTIONS IN HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
The stress research highlights some of the assumptions in health psychology.
1.Dividing up the soup. Stress research defines appraisal as central to eliciting stress as
a means to progress beyond the more simplistic stimulus response theories of Cannon
and Seyle. Therefore it states that appraisal (‘is it stressful’, ‘can I cope’) is necessary
for a stressor to elicit stress. However, research then explores whether coping reduces
the stress response. Coping and stress are sometimes one construct and sometimes
two constructs which can be associated.
2.The problem of mind–body split. Although much of the stress research examines
how the mind may influence the body (e.g. appraisal relates to the release of stress
hormones, social support relates to resulting stress-related illnesses), how this process
occurs is unclear. In addition, although these relationships suggest an interaction
between the mind and the body, they still define them as separate entities which
influence each other, not as the same entity.
3 The problem of progress. It is often assumed that the most recent theories are
better than earlier theories. Therefore, models including appraisal, social support,
etc., are better than those describing stress as a knee jerk reaction to a stressor.
Perhaps these different theories are not necessarily better than each other, but are
simply different ways of describing the stress process.FURTHER READING
➧ Cohen, S., Kessler, R.C. and Gordon, L.U. (eds) (1995) Measuring stress: a guide
for health and social scientists. New York: Oxford University Press.
This is a comprehensive edited collection for anyone interested in the details of
stress measurement using physiological and self-report approaches.➧ Lazarus, R.S. (2000) Toward better research on stress and coping. American
Psychologist, 55: 665–73.
This paper is part of a special issue on stress and coping and reflects Lazarus’s
own comments on recent developments and critiques of the stress literature.➧ Vingehoets, A. and Perski, A. (2000) The psychobiology of stress, in A. Kaptein,
A. Appels and K. Orth-Gómer (eds) Psychology in Medicine. Houten: Bohn
Stafleu Von Loghum.
This chapter provides an easily accessible overview of the physiological aspects
of stress.250 HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY