Resistance Stage

Definition

The resistance stage is a phase in the process of work adjustment, where an individual responds to the stressors and challenges encountered in the workplace. This stage is characterized by the individual's attempts to cope with and adapt to the demands of their work environment.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. During the resistance stage, the individual actively tries to overcome the challenges they face, using various coping strategies to manage stress and maintain their productivity.
2. The resistance stage is marked by increased physiological arousal, as the individual's body responds to the perceived threats or stressors in the work environment.
3. Successful navigation of the resistance stage can lead to increased resilience and better long-term adjustment to the work environment.
4. Factors such as social support, job resources, and individual characteristics can influence an individual's ability to effectively cope during the resistance stage.
5. Failure to successfully navigate the resistance stage can lead to the exhaustion stage, where the individual's coping resources become depleted, and they experience burnout.

Review Questions

• Explain how the resistance stage fits into the overall process of work adjustment.
  • The resistance stage is the second phase in the work adjustment process, following the initial alarm stage. During this stage, the individual actively tries to cope with and adapt to the demands and challenges they face in the workplace. They employ various coping strategies to manage stress and maintain their productivity. Successful navigation of the resistance stage can lead to increased resilience and better long-term adjustment to the work environment, while failure to do so can result in the exhaustion stage and burnout.
• Describe the physiological and psychological responses that characterize the resistance stage.
  • The resistance stage is marked by increased physiological arousal, as the individual's body responds to the perceived threats or stressors in the work environment. This can manifest as elevated heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension, as the body prepares to confront or avoid the challenges at hand. Psychologically, the individual may experience heightened anxiety, frustration, and a sense of determination to overcome the obstacles they face. They may employ a range of coping strategies, such as problem-solving, seeking social support, or engaging in stress-management techniques, in an effort to maintain their productivity and adapt to the work environment.
• Analyze the factors that can influence an individual's ability to effectively navigate the resistance stage of work adjustment.
  • An individual's ability to effectively navigate the resistance stage of work adjustment can be influenced by a variety of factors. Social support, both from colleagues and personal networks, can provide the emotional and practical resources necessary to cope with workplace challenges. The availability of job resources, such as autonomy, feedback, and opportunities for skill development, can also enhance an individual's sense of control and self-efficacy, enabling them to better manage stress. Individual characteristics, such as personality traits, coping styles, and resilience, can also play a significant role in determining how well an individual is able to resist and adapt to the demands of the work environment. Ultimately, the successful navigation of the resistance stage depends on the interplay of these various factors, which can either facilitate or hinder an individual's ability to effectively cope with the stressors they encounter in the workplace.

Related terms

Alarm Stage: The initial stage of the work adjustment process, where the individual becomes aware of and responds to the stressors in the work environment.

Exhaustion Stage: The final stage of the work adjustment process, where the individual's coping resources are depleted, and they experience physical and emotional fatigue.

Coping Strategies: The specific actions and behaviors an individual employs to manage the demands and challenges they face in the workplace.