psyq

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Question 1.n Chapter 14 of the textbook, the authors describe several models of social support: the number of social contacts model, the intimacy model, and the perceived availability model. These models seem to share the assumption that contact with other people is likely to be beneficial. But we can all probably think of instances in which some of our social contact, or some of our helpers, or even people we are intimate with, end up causing us more stress when they try to help us. How can social support in some instances be a detriment to health? When might social support have this paradoxical effect? What would you do to cope or reduce stress in those instances?

Jerry:It can be extremely beneficial to have the support and interaction with people after something has happened. Having contact with other people can be very helpful in everyday life also. It can however be more tiring or even irritating during certain times. After the loss of a loved one the person may need personal time to grieve while others think they are being helpful by being around to spend time or do other things for the person who has lost the loved one. During any alarming or tragic circumstance that a person is going through they still require personal time to regroup. The last phase of the general adaption syndrome shows that humans require rest from going through a phase of exhaustion (Kassin, Fein, & Markus, 2014, p. 509). Even in cases where people experience happy circumstances they may still require time to regroup. After giving birth a woman may need time from all the visitors who want to wish her well and meet the baby.

Comment:

2. In Chapter 14 of the textbook, the authors describe several models of social support: the number of social contacts model, the intimacy model, and the perceived availability model. These models seem to share the assumption that contact with other people is likely to be beneficial. But we can all probably think of instances in which some of our social contact, or some of our helpers, or even people we are intimate with, end up causing us more stress when they try to help us. How can social support in some instances be a detriment to health? When might social support have this paradoxical effect? What would you do to cope or reduce stress in those instances?

Alex: It is funny this question came up this week. It is perfect timing because I witnessed how a support group can hinder health. I have a friend who is currently going through divorce. Although she has an amazing support group, many of these people think they need to tell her every little think about her ex-husband having an affair. It seems like the people think they are doing good by letting her know what happen, but the hurt is still so new and she is trying to cope with being a single mom and they dad won’t take their four year old son ever. I know they are thinking they are helping her, but it brings back feelings that she is trying to push aside so she can move past this stage in her life. Therefore every time someone tells her a new thing that happened while they were married she gets hurt, angry and stressed all over again.I think to help her reduce her stress she may need to let the people know that she doesn't think hearing all this stuff is helpful and maybe have her divorce and exhusband be topics she only discuss with a couple people.

Comment

3What would you argue? Top of Form 1

Say you were a social psychologist and got ahold of this example. What happens when a mayor is placed on a jury? Put on your best social psychologist hat. What concepts have you learned that would lead you to argue that a mayor on the jury DID influence the proceedings? What about an argument against?

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/08/nyregion/mayor-is-praised-as-just-another-juror.html

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