Lazarus' Theory of Stress and Seligman's Theory of Learned Helplessness

UNIVERSITY
Name
Task
Class Discussion
Week 4 and 5
ASSIGNMENT

2
Lazarus' Theory of Stress
Stress is defined by the individual perceptions of the psychological status. Effect of
stress is based on individual feelings of vulnerability and ability to cope with stress. This
theory depicts key highlights with the nature of stress faced by individuals. Primary
appraisals occur when the decision of a situation is often threatening or positive and can be
either relevant or irrelevant to the situation in focus. In the primary evaluation, key three
things of evaluation are of concern; that is the significance of threat, which can either be
positive or negative encounter. Secondary appraisals enable copying of stress with the
stressor. It highlights resources need to cope with stress. It focuses on internal options and
external options that include peers and professional assistance, (Bliese, Edwards &
Sonnentag, 2017).
Problem-based coping mechanisms involve lack of control on the individual situation
and thus cannot be able to manage the problem easily. Criteria of stress include, defining a
problem, generating alternative solutions, learning of new skills, reappraisal and establish a
new behavior. An emotional coping state is used when a person feels that they cannot be to
manage sources of problems and engages in gaining strategies for regulation and
management of stress. Emotion occurs after making an argument often unconscious,
assessment and the meaning of those they care about. From this point of view, emotion seems
rational and necessary facet of survival, (Biggs, Brough & Drummond, 2017).
Seligman's theory of learned helplessness
Learned helplessness occurs after undergoing pain, suffering and discomfort
conditioning. When realization of no control on what is happening, affecting individual enter