By Jess Durnian

Environmental

Stress

One way to understand the relationship between the environment and human behavior is to analyze environmental

conditions that are capable of interfering with optimal human functioning. There

are specific environmental characteristics that may lead to physiological or

psychological discomfort, stress and in some cases poor health.

Relationship between environment and

human behavior

It is not being claimed that stress is inevitable or even predominantly a

function or variation in environmental quality. Stress is a person-based

concept. Nevertheless, many stress researchers have overlooked properties

of physical situations, most likely to place greater adaptive demands on

human coping resources.

What is being claimed

Environmental stressors are typically aversive, primarily uncontrollable, and of

variable duration and require low to moderate adjustments. One of the

unfortunate consequences of the neglect of physical characteristics of environmental

stressors is that is it hard to cut out of your life. In fact, some are inevitable to cut out of

your life. Also, the absence of certain environmental factors is not realistic.

What are environmental stressors

•cataclysmic events

•stressful life events

•daily hassles

•ambient stressors

General types of environmental stressors

Cataclysmic events are sudden catastrophes that demand major adaptive

responses from all individuals directly affected by the event. For example: floods,

earthquakes, major storms etc.

Cataclysmic Events

2013 has been considered the most quiet year so far for bad hurricanes. With this being said, by the end of

November we will be finishing with 12 tropical storms and 6 hurricanes. These

are all very destructive and have affected many different individuals who

had to deal with the consequences.

Stressful life events are major incidents in the

lives of people that typically require

personal or social adaptive responses. This includes major changes in family

status like marriage or divorce. Also, major changes in economic conditions like gain or

loss in a job.

Stressful life events

In a total population of 1,000 individuals, there are about 6.8 marriages and 3.6

divorces. Both of these leading to stress.

Daily hassles are typical events of

ordinary life that may cause frustration,

tension or irritation. Environmental events

(crowded elevator, noisy party), work

issues (argument with co-worker, deadlines),

or interpersonal problems (argument with friend or family member) constitute the majority of daily

hassles.

Daily hassles

Elevator rides are one of the safest means of transportation, along with most

uncomfortable. There are many do’s and don’ts riding elevators, and if certain

people do not follow those unspoken rules then it can make the elevator ride quite awkward. Also, packed elevators stress

people out, especially if they are claustrophobic.

Ambient stressors distinguish more continuous, relatively stable and intractable conditions of the

physical environment. This includes living with chronic air pollution, where the only solution could be relocating

and moving.

Ambient stressors

The latest data shows that there are about 3.5 million deaths a year that are caused by indoor air

pollution.

About 3.3 million deaths are caused by outdoor air pollution

Air pollution kills more people than AIDS and malaria combined

Coping with environmental stressors can be difficult. Many environmental factors causing

stress are inevitable. Also, not all the stressors are negative. For example, getting married is a stressor, however that is one of the best days of

your life. On the other hand, air pollution is a negative stressor that can not be changed, but the individual would more or less have to relocate to

try and get away from that. Daily hassles are stressors that can try to be avoided, however can not always be done. Lastly, cataclysmic events

are also inevitable to avoid, but one can simply be prepared for such events so it would be less

stressful if it occurs.

Coping with environmental stressors

Evans, G., & Cohen, S. (n.d.). Environmental psychology. Environmental stress. Retrieved November 20,

2013, from http://www.psy.cmu.edu/~scohen/environmentalpsychology

Sources