STRESS AND THE LAW Ian M Chung Principal

Stress Ø Does it exist? Ø What is it? Ø The word “stress” is

Stress is a process Event/crisis/pressure + Person Reaction www. ianmchung. com COPYRIGHT © IAN

Is all stress bad? Distress is bad PERFORMANCE Eustress is good YERKES-DODSON CURVE STRESS

Life events and crises Ø Whether a life event constitutes a crisis/pressure depends on:

Stressors Ø Interpersonal Ø Load Ø Responsibility Ø Resources Ø Loss Ø Perceived “threat”

The person and their development Genetics: general/specific Potential Life/conditioning/learning/trauma Outcome: the person www. ianmchung.

What constitutes the person? Ø Personality/neuroticisms Ø Values/preferences Ø Beliefs/prejudices Ø Fears Ø Attitudes

The role of our nature “Nature” “Life rules” Perspective Perception Interpretation determines how we

Stress is in the eye of the beholder Ø ‘Tis not the bump that

How our head turns a life event into a crisis Ø Cognitive distortion Ø

Interpretation style determines response Ø Functional response Ø Dysfunctional response ØResilient style ØSensitive style

A pause for perspective Ø Classification is a theoretical or academic activity Ø Real

Another perspective Ø People must be seen in their context Ø Times, circumstances, conditions

Stress response: three phases general adaptation syndrome (Hans Seleye) Alarm Resistance Exhaustion www. ianmchung.

Alarm phase: “fight or flight” Ø Mediated by stress hormones: adrenaline and cortisol Ø

Resistance phase: maladaptive stress management Ø Misinterpretation of stress response: adapts Ø Reaction to

Exhaustion phase: “loss of hope” Ø “Burn out” Ø“Break down” www. ianmchung. com COPYRIGHT

There is only one choice: take responsibility for our life Ø Self-care is not

www. ianmchung. com COPYRIGHT © IAN M CHUNG 2005

Copyright © Ian M Chung 2005 The foregoing presentation is copyright. Except as permitted

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Stress Ø Does it exist? Ø What is it? Ø The word “stress” is vague Ø Defining stress: • the response of a person, system or object when it is exposed to pressures that may be physical or psycho-social and which, when excessive to the capacity of the person to withstand, may cause harm or dysfunction www. ianmchung. com COPYRIGHT © IAN M CHUNG 2005

Life events and crises Ø Whether a life event constitutes a crisis/pressure depends on: • Nature of event • Magnitude of event • Reactivity of person to the particular type of event, sensitivity/vulnerability issue www. ianmchung. com COPYRIGHT © IAN M CHUNG 2005

What constitutes the person? Ø Personality/neuroticisms Ø Values/preferences Ø Beliefs/prejudices Ø Fears Ø Attitudes Ø Priorities Ø Deficits/disorders/impairments Ø Talents/strengths/skills/knowledge Ø Human nature is complex www. ianmchung. com COPYRIGHT © IAN M CHUNG 2005

Stress is in the eye of the beholder Ø ‘Tis not the bump that causes the fright but what you imagine caused the noise in the night Ø The cause: • • Catastrophising Worry Fear Imagination www. ianmchung. com COPYRIGHT © IAN M CHUNG 2005

How our head turns a life event into a crisis Ø Cognitive distortion Ø Negative attribution causes: • Perception of “threat” • Distress Ø Unawareness or denial of unconscious processes Ø Inability to deal with these processes Ø Lifestyle not conducive to stress management www. ianmchung. com COPYRIGHT © IAN M CHUNG 2005

Interpretation style determines response Ø Functional response Ø Dysfunctional response ØResilient style ØSensitive style ØModified response ØStress “alarm” response ØCognitive/neocortical ØPrimitive/limbic www. ianmchung. com COPYRIGHT © IAN M CHUNG 2005

A pause for perspective Ø Classification is a theoretical or academic activity Ø Real life is not black and white Ø Nature is diverse and dimensional Ø Categories allow for diversity Ø Each and every snowflake under the microscope is entirely unique and individual www. ianmchung. com COPYRIGHT © IAN M CHUNG 2005

Another perspective Ø People must be seen in their context Ø Times, circumstances, conditions change Ø Different eras have different values, prejudices, economics, societies Ø These differences change all determinants that mould the individual www. ianmchung. com COPYRIGHT © IAN M CHUNG 2005

Alarm phase: “fight or flight” Ø Mediated by stress hormones: adrenaline and cortisol Ø Purpose: • physiological preparation for escape from threat or protection of territory Ø Causes: • physical symptoms, cognitive impairment, emotional distress Ø Misinterpretation of above factors perpetuates distress Ø Type As fight (angry); Type Bs fly (scared) www. ianmchung. com COPYRIGHT © IAN M CHUNG 2005

Resistance phase: maladaptive stress management Ø Misinterpretation of stress response: adapts Ø Reaction to stress response itself Ø Attempts to escape: • chemical, behavioral, avoidance/procrastination, geographic Ø Illness develops: • physical and psychological Ø Performance deteriorates Ø Relations deteriorate www. ianmchung. com COPYRIGHT © IAN M CHUNG 2005

There is only one choice: take responsibility for our life Ø Self-care is not selfish Ø We are responsible for the way we react Ø Our response cannot be left to instinct or intellect Ø Control over our response to life’s vicissitudes requires insight, honesty, discipline, skill and a balanced life www. ianmchung. com COPYRIGHT © IAN M CHUNG 2005

Copyright © Ian M Chung 2005 The foregoing presentation is copyright. Except as permitted by applicable copyright legislation, no part of the foregoing presentation may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means without the express written permission of the copyright owner, Ian M Chung. Email imc@ianmchung. com Web www. ianmchung. com COPYRIGHT © IAN M CHUNG 2005