Improving Acute Stress Responses: The Power of Reappraisal
Authors:
Jeremy P. Jamieson
Wendy Berry Mendes
Matthew K. Nock
Published In:
Current Directions in Psychological Science, February 1, 2013
Key Concepts:
Stress and Arousal: Physiological changes during stress are not inherently negative and can be managed to promote adaptive responses.
Reappraisal of Arousal: Encourages individuals to perceive stress arousal as a beneficial tool that can enhance performance.
Main Ideas:
Cognitive Appraisal: A powerful technique to shift negative stress experiences into positive ones by reframing the meaning of physiological signals associated with stress.
Physiological and Psychological Benefits: Arousal reappraisal can improve physiological reactivity, attention, and performance.
Applications:
Improving Performance: This approach is particularly useful in environments requiring high performance under stress, such as exams or competitive sports.
Potential for Broader Applications: The method could be applied to manage stress in various contexts, including social anxiety and public speaking.
Research Insights:
Adaptive Responses: The article highlights that reappraising stress arousal helps in separating negative psychological states from adverse physiological responses.
Performance Enhancement: Reappraisal strategies have been shown to improve performance, particularly in test situations like the GRE.
Related Works and References:
The article cites foundational works on stress, cognitive appraisal, and emotion regulation by various scholars. These include studies on attentional bias, emotion regulation, and the biological underpinnings of stress responses.
Author Affiliations:
Jeremy P. Jamieson: Department of Psychology, University of Rochester
Wendy Berry Mendes: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco
Matthew K. Nock: Department of Psychology, Harvard University
Further Reading and Resources:
The article encourages further exploration of cognitive strategies and emotion regulation in stress management through referenced studies and experiments.
Conclusion:
Reappraising stress-related arousal as beneficial rather than harmful can significantly improve both physiological and performance outcomes during stressful situations. This provides a valuable psychological tool for managing acute stress effectively.