Discussion Questions
Week 1 (Ch 1-2)
Discussion Questions
• Instead of being able to swim underwater as Garfield would like in his perfect world, what would your perfect world look like? Name at least five things that would exist in your perfect world. Explain. Now name your top 5 stressors. Would any of these stressors be decreased or even eliminated if your perfect world existed? Or is there no correlation between your perfect world and your top stressors? Explain. • Which do you think is more stressful: one major stressor (i.e., death of a loved one) or several minor stressors that occur at the same time (i.e., getting stuck in traffic, losing your keys, failing an exam, etc.)? In other words, are major life changes more stressful than daily hassles? Or is it the other way around? Explain. • How would you define stress? Complete the statement “To me, stress means … ” Explain. • Do you agree or disagree that some of the “bumps” in the road of life are self-induced? What are some stressors that people bring on themselves? Explain. • Sometimes there’s a fine line between eustress and distress. When do you think something that was eustressful becomes distressful and/or vice versa? In other words, how can you tell if a stressor is eustressful or distressful? Explain. • Do you agree or disagree that perception is key in terms of determining whether a stressor is eustressful or distressful? Explain. • Do you agree or disagree with the Yerkes-Dodson Principle? Is it really possible to have too little stress in your life? Explain. • Which type of stressor (physiological, sociological, psychological, or philosophical) do you think is most common among most people? Which do you think is the most detrimental or has the potential for creating the most stress for most people? Explain. • Comment on anything stated in the lectures or choose a question from another week.
Video • Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0wYoBBEFQw and watch.
Discussion Questions
• Instead of being able to swim underwater as Garfield would like in his perfect world, what would your perfect world look like? Name at least five things that would exist in your perfect world. Explain. Now name your top 5 stressors. Would any of these stressors be decreased or even eliminated if your perfect world existed? Or is there no correlation between your perfect world and your top stressors? Explain. • Which do you think is more stressful: one major stressor (i.e., death of a loved one) or several minor stressors that occur at the same time (i.e., getting stuck in traffic, losing your keys, failing an exam, etc.)? In other words, are major life changes more stressful than daily hassles? Or is it the other way around? Explain. • How would you define stress? Complete the statement “To me, stress means … ” Explain. • Do you agree or disagree that some of the “bumps” in the road of life are self-induced? What are some stressors that people bring on themselves? Explain. • Sometimes there’s a fine line between eustress and distress. When do you think something that was eustressful becomes distressful and/or vice versa? In other words, how can you tell if a stressor is eustressful or distressful? Explain. • Do you agree or disagree that perception is key in terms of determining whether a stressor is eustressful or distressful? Explain. • Do you agree or disagree with the Yerkes-Dodson Principle? Is it really possible to have too little stress in your life? Explain. • Which type of stressor (physiological, sociological, psychological, or philosophical) do you think is most common among most people? Which do you think is the most detrimental or has the potential for creating the most stress for most people? Explain. • Comment on anything stated in the lectures or choose a question from another week.
Video • Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0wYoBBEFQw and watch.