Stress at the Movies

According to Psychology Applied to Modern Life, “stress is any circumstance that threatens or is perceived to threaten ones well being and thereby tax ones coping abilities.” (Weiten) Threats of stress may be one’s physical safety, security, self esteem, reputation or peace of mind. How one copes with the experience of feeling threatened depends on what type of a person you are and how you deal with events that are stressful. A new experience for one may be a daily routine for another individual. In my own words I would define stress as an individual or event that makes a person emotionally unable to deal with things or distant towards normal daily routines that can eventually cause physical or mental illness. Stress has become a part of everyday life for most people.

Stress may be embedded in the environment for some. Some examples are excessive noise, traffic, crowding, poverty, violence and pollution. Excessive stress can threaten a person’s well being. Stress can also be influenced by a cultural setting. Culture sets the contexts in which people experience and judge stress. With there being cultural differences, stress can be caused by discrimination for some, or adapting to a new setting or culture.

There are three forms of stressors: acute, chronic and anticipatory. According to, Psychology Applied to Modern Life, “acute stressors are threat events that have a short duration and a clear end point. Chronic stressors are threat events that have a long duration and no apparent time limit (Weiten).” Anticipatory stressors are common when there is upcoming or future events that may be threatening. Stressors can come from any aspect of life though, not just from these categories.

There are major sources to stress: frustration, internal conflict, change, and pressure. Frustration happens when you want something and can’t have it. Internal conflict is that should I or shouldn’t I aspect (good angel and bad devil on shoulder). Most people don’t like change,...