Positive human functioning in stress situations : an interactive proposal

Abstract

Understanding human adaptation to stressful situations is a fascinating and complex topic. Most of this complexity derives from the ambiguity of the concept of stress, the factors that explain human functioning when exposed to stress conditions, and the characteristics of the situation that can be associated with stress reactions. However, the actuality of the phenomenon and the increasing effects on human well-being in a broad set of living contexts demands answers and solutions from science to mitigate the negative consequences of stress. One of the major areas that can help reach this goal is proposing or refining conceptual models that explain human adaptation to stress. Taking as a starting point the cognitive-motivational-relational theory of emotions of Lazarus (1991, 1999), this chapter proposes an interactive model of human adaptation, discussing six aspects: (a) the importance of the stressful event during the process of human adaptation to stress; (b) the influence of antecedent factors (situational and personal characteristics) on human adaptation to stress events; (c) the central role of cognitive appraisal in human adaptation to stressful events; (d) the levels of responses implicit to a stressful situation; (e) the interactive process between the first level of cognitive appraisal, the responses, and the second level of cognitive appraisal; and (f) the event outcomes. The chapter terminates by discussing the mediating role of cognitive appraisal in the relation between stressful events and the event outcomes and by proposing some questions for future research. Considering all aspects, the interactive model of human adaptation is a tentative proposal to explain how individuals adapt to stressful situations that needs further investigation to confirm its utility.