Module 9.

Frustration and Conflict

Frustration. Occurs when goal achievement is blocked: a conflict is created when incompatible
response tendencies are aroused.

When a conflict stem from rival motivations, it called motivational conflict. When a conflict is
restricted solely to competing habits under one and the same drive it is called habit conflict or
habit competition.
Source of Frustration

Physical Environment. Presents such obstacles as floods, typhoons or rugged mountains.

Social Environment. Presents such obstacle restriction imposed by other people and the
customs and of the community. Children are thwarted by parental denial, disapproval and
postponement.
Individual Themselves. Are the deficiencies which can cause frustration. Some people are
handicapped by disease, blindness, deafness or paralysis that can limit their activities.

Types of Conflicts

1. Conflicting Attraction or Approach-approach Conflict – are two desirable but mutally

exclusive goals.
2. Approach-avoidance Conflict – is an attraction to an object or state of affairs and at the
same time a repulsion towards something associated with it.
3. Avoidance-avoidance Conflict – two unpleasant alternatives and one cannot be avoided
without encountering the other.
4. Multiple Conflicts – each of which has both pleasant and unpleasant consequence.
Multiple conflicts take a longer time to resolve.

Responses to Frustration
1. High frustration tolerance
2. Ego-involvement
3. Feelings of enferiority

Three Types of Adjustive Behavior

1. Aggressive Reaction. As an overt expression of frustration, can be directed at the same

source of frustration or can be displaced.
2. Withdrawal Reaction. Withdrawal can be classified may be in the form of physical
flight or retreating a “shell” of psychological defenses.
- Fantasy – when a person’s desires are frustrated by reality, the person may retreat into a
fantasy world where the thwarted wishes can classified.
- “Beatnik” Reaction – the eccentric behavior of the “beat” generation may be regarded
as a withdrawal reaction frustration of modern life.
 - Repression – is a process including from the consciousness a thought or feeling that
cause pain, shame and guilt.
- Apathy – one response to a frustrating situation is the opposite of active aggression.
Instead of being destructed and hostile, the individual may show apathy, indifference or
inactivity.
- Fixation – another consequence of frustration is the tendency to repetitive, stereotyped
behavior.
- Identification – reduces anxiety through a escape into a dream world.
- Regression – a frustrated individual unconsciously seeks to return to an earlier, more
secure of his/her life.
3. Compromise Reaction.
- Reaction Formation – people may disguise their motivation and conflict by believing
their motive is exactly the opposite of their real motive.
- Projection – another common disguise that protects a person against anxiety-producing
impulses of projection.
- Sublimation – there are some needs where indirect satisfaction is often impossible
- Compensation – an attempt or cover up felt deficiencies or undesirable traits by
emphasizing a desirable types of behavior.
- Rationalization – is a process of interpreting our behavior in ways more acceptable to
the self by using reasoning or alibis to substitute for the causes.

Module 9.1

Theories of Stress

1. The Engineering Model. This concept is derived from Hook’s Law of elasticity in
physics. It is locates in the stimulus characteristics of the environment.
2. Hans Selye (GAS) General Adaption Syndrome. The common characteristics of
syndrome is being sick. He enumerated three stages; 1) alarm reaction 2)stage of
resistance 3) stage of exhaustion.
3. Brady. Crises Decomposition Theory
First – confusion, upset and panic reaction.
Second – attempt resolution mobilizes the body of overcome exhaustion.
Third – decompensation leads to withdrawal, depression, guilt and physical illness.

Stress has Three Major Causes

1. Psychosocial
2. Bio-ecological
3. Personality

Stress Therapies
 Richard Lazarus, Transactional Model (1981-1993). The effect of the interaction between
the person and the environment. He devised a scale to measure stress in daily life. The more
flexible a person is, the lesser the stress.

Suzzane Ouellete, the Coping styles (1987). The degree to which participants felt that they
could control or influence life events, involvement in or commitment to life activities. The
three C’s control, commitment, and challenge. She called a processing these as the
“hardiness personality type”.

Module 9.2

Unhealthy Lifestyle Factor

Contributory Factors to Bad Health

a. Smoking – increases risk for heart ailment, lung cancer, pulmonary or respiratory
infections and tumors.
b. Substance abuse – continued use of drugs and alcohol can damage in every organ in our
body.
c. Lack of exercise – people who are less physically fit tend to become ill when stress.
d. Poor diet – too much carbohydrates and improper nutrition can lower cardiovascular
fitness to people of all ages.

Steps to Healthy Lifestyle

a. Eat proper nutrition.

b. Apply a positive outlook of life.
c. Practice Sports.
d. Relax and listen3 to music regularly
e. Target a goal oriented lifestyle and its benefits.
f. Smile and enhance your sense of humor.
g. Avoid smoking and substance abuse
h. Diversity interest.
i. Practice family solidarity.

Basic Nutrition and Nutrients for a Healthy Body

a. Water
b. Carbohydrates
c. Protein
d. Fats
- Saturated Fat
- Polyunsaturated Fat (polyunsaturated fatty acid)
- Monounsaturated Fat
Vitamins and Minerals

a. Vitamin A
b. Vitamin B1
c. Vitamin B2
d. Vitamin B3
e. Vitamin B6
f. Vitamin B12
g. Vitamin C
h. Vitamin D
i. Vitamin E
j. Folic Acid
k. Copper Iron
l. Potassium
m. Zinc