Stress & Personality Style
(A) Locus of Control
| (1) People with an external locus of control: | pessimistic, little control of things, put the responsibilities of success and failure on the external causes. |
| (2) People with an internal locus of control: | optimistic, self-control of life, eager to face challenge, realistic and responsible for consequences of their decisions. |
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Since individuals with internal locus of control believe that they can control their lives and responsible for the consequences of their decisions, they are of greater ability to face and control stressors.
(B) Hardiness
Individuals with hardiness consist of three components, i.e. commitment, control and challenge. Commitment means they have active involvement in their works and social lives. Control means they feel more in control of events in their lives. Challenge means they are eager to face challenges and consider them as something that can bring changes to life and self-growth. People with hardiness can deal with stress properly. They are happy easily, and have fewer psychological problems and illnesses.
(C) Personality
Type A / B Personality are used to describe people's behavioral pattern under stress. Here are their behavioral patterns:
| (1) | Type A behavioral pattern: extremely competitive, achievement-oriented, hostile, angry, lack of tolerance, impatience and a sense of time urgency. |
| (2) | Type B behavioral pattern: relatively slow, calm, relaxed and easily satisfied. |
From the above description, people with Type A Personality are found to have more stress responses. In order to reduce their stress level, they can:
| - | Use humors to defuse the stressful situations and feelings |
| - | Slow down the rhythm of life, and avoid putting oneself in a hurry |
| - | Widen their view, and devote time on the other hobbies besides work |
| - | Try to appreciate the surroundings and other people, and enjoy life |
| - | Be patient of themselves as well as others, do not interrupt others in the middle of the sentences |
| - | Set up a reasonable and attainable work schedule/ timetable. Allow flexibility, avoid tight schedule and eliminate too many deadlines. |