Stress and Crisis: Decision-Making Under Pressure
Item 1. Stress. Lack of fit between the person and their environment; an overall response of the organism to internal or external demands that are threatening, consisting basically in a mobilization of physiological and psychological resources to cope with such demands. The Fear Factor
- Fear: A usually unpleasant sensation, a normal response to real danger.
- Anxiety: An emotion similar to fear, but without objectively real danger.
- Phobia: A fear far beyond reasonable precaution, inexplicable and uncontrollable, causing the sufferer to avoid triggering situations.
- Panic: A sudden onset of intense, acute fear, associated with desperate attempts to escape.
Decisions in High-Stress Situations. How do you define “decision”?
- Resolution adopted in a doubtful situation.
- Choosing a course of action or reaction among several possibilities.
- Conscious choice between two or more possible actions.
Stable Personal Conditions for Emergency Response
- A. Perception of the Situation: Identifying and assigning positive or negative value to perceived events based on memory and associated feelings.
- B. Ability to Focus Attention: Maintaining composure and focus in stressful situations.
- C. Intelligence: Ability to process information and develop alternative solutions.
- D. Personality Factors: Risk-taking ability and other factors influencing decision quality, improvable through training.
- E. Attitudes and Values: Conditions influencing choices, consequences, and acceptable alternatives.
- F. Self-Esteem and Mood: Confidence in one’s competence and belief in successful outcomes (self-efficacy).
Determining Factors on Participant Performance:
- 1. Risk of Death: Three factors worsen prognosis:
- The Unexpected: Sudden, surprising trauma with worse psychological consequences.
- Life-Threatening: The belief in the possibility of death causes intense anguish.
- Caused by Others: More traumatic due to the intent to harm, unlike unintentional disasters.
- 2. Slight Fear Improves Performance: Increased awareness and better-weighted decisions.
- 3. Intense Fear Interferes Seriously: Impaired analysis and attention disturbed by overwhelming emotions.
- 4. Fear of Loss of Reputation: Strengthens performance, especially when identifying with a group.
- 5. Negative Psychological Impact: Affects the team and can be contagious.
Topic 2. Crisis. A temporary state of disorder and disorganization, characterized by the inability to cope using usual methods. Coping mechanisms fail due to:
- Overwhelming Problem: (e.g., death, serious injury).
- Problem’s Special Meaning: Seemingly overwhelming due to personal significance.
- Vulnerability: Illness, prior emotional exhaustion.
- New Problem: Lack of developed coping mechanisms.
- Lack of Social Support: Feelings of loneliness, fear, and abandonment.
Emergency Crisis Definition: A serious, unexpected event exceeding adaptive capacities. Characteristics:
- Sudden: Unplanned, unexpected disruption.
- Failed Coping: Unsuccessful attempts to overcome the situation.
- Short-Lived: People act to end suffering.
- Dangerous Behaviors: Panic, defeat, self-destructive actions.
Crisis involves imbalance, mediated by:
- Meaning attributed to the stressor.
- Stressor duration.
- Novelty of the stressor.
- Stressor magnitude.
- Multiple simultaneous or staggered stressors.
Crisis intervention aims to restore pre-crisis functioning. Steps:
- Containment and Symptom Reduction: Addressing fear, anger, etc.
- Reduce Emotional Distress: Combating helplessness and loneliness.
- Restore Control: Mobilizing personal resources.
- Restore Functioning: Return to normal or near-normal functioning.
- Prevent Further Disturbances: Addressing distress and disruption.
Common Crisis Intervention Features:
- Intervention may be offered proactively, not just in response to a request.
- Preset time limits for intervention.
- Brevity and intensity of intervention.
- Extreme emotional intensity.
- Frequent and intense physical contact.