Psychology of Stress, Anger and Influence

Hasan A. Yahya, Ph.Ds

Major influence principles on/of others is important in reducing stress and anger related diseases among people in various positions in life. Inversely, personal behavioral and terminology influence others positively or negatively. In recent study of stress and safety researchers show that people are more mobilized by realizing that they will lose than what they might gain. In one study,  home owners received an energy audit with a list of conservation strategies. Half the residents were offered an average of 75 cent per day if they followed the advice; others were informed to lose 75 cents per day if they did not follow instructions.

The results show that those with loss control instructions made significant changes than those receiving the bonus money. This is a type of scarcity notion, in business management, the managers system carry the slogan “this is a list of what you are missing”. They emphasize the limited number of opportunities  to receive enough information. The more information increases the ability of workers to excel. In universities usually provide orientations to new students to be aware of the various activities and services provided by university departments and sections. Instructions cover the physical, mental, psychological, social, and intellectual avenues of human life on campus. For example, student life in dorms, regulation and applications needed for certain activities, safety, library sites and services, sports, news, counseling services, job opportunities, rewards ,  lost and found, mailing, lecture rooms, maps, parking, restaurants, etc.,    

Those who do not attend these orientation are losing time and energy to find out about university services, rules, regulations, and opportunities.  While those who were attendants of orientation seminars have excelled more than those who did not attend. They are involved in activities such as reciprocity of returning favors, and scarcity evaluation and selection of rare opportunities, more following authority figures who are trustworthy with credentials, and have consistency by keeping promises they give, while following others or imitate them in favorable actions. These orientations were made to reduce tension and stress among students, and encourage them to promote friendship with  people like themselves with  common goals and values. While this not totally true, many people who did not attend orientation seminars depend more on themselves, and become knowledgeable in what they need to know.  While orientations may give a large number of information, not all of it necessary for all students. So I believe the search to know something you need is necessary to search for it. The influence of others on adult is almost acceptable, in listening, discussion, searching, and following reasoning in matters needed in any business. People in terms of authority trust certain other people as credible and trustworthy and neglect those who are not. Optimism may be a factor here, where people like to hear encouraging statements rather than disappointing ones, for example, saying disappointing statement: “If we do not follow instructions to solve the problem, we all will be in serious trouble” have different influence on hearers, than the statement says:“If we follow instructions carefully, we will succeed in our plan”.

In terms of consensus, saying : “ we must do something because  anarchy and disobedience of rules become the rule” is harder to grasp than saying “we must set-up  stress awareness program to help employees get job satisfaction”. Because when our  communication implies many others perform undesirable target behavior, we provide a normative excuse.

  In terms of  Anger, psychologically, is the most social principle influencing others. Appropriate statements actions may reduce anger and give listeners and  invited them to  act in certain situations differently, especially among young children, for example, a statement preferable for a mother to her husband or kids, to say “Dinner is ready” than “come and eat, before food becomes cold”  or in other situation between a Mom and her four years daughter using this statement “Good girls like to be clean, or I do like always to see you clean, honey” instead of “You spoiled your dress, dummy! ” or “Shame on you, you disappointed me”. Readers know better now if they follow some of the advices in this article, I hope! For more interested readers, in his book: “Personality and Stress management,” (2008) the author explains rules of conduct to reduce stress and anger, plus personality types.