Contemporary Social issues
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Impact of the stress theories in the mental and physical health of the employees......................3
Different types of stress that impacts the employees...................................................................3
Role of environment for the arising of the stress.........................................................................4
Evaluation of Labelling Theory...................................................................................................7
Evaluating the relevant research regarding the labelling.............................................................8
Findings of the modified theory..................................................................................................8
Evaluation of Stigma and Self-sigma..........................................................................................8
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................10
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Introduction
The mental and physical illness of the employees can breakdown the productivity of an
organization. So it is very essential to investigate the cause of their mental and physical illness
(Jalali, Zargar and Baghani, 2019). For these requirements the ‘theory of stress’ and ‘theory of
labeling’ can be used to enquire about the main causes of the mental illness of the employees and
the process that can be applied to reduce this problems.
Impact of the stress theories in the mental and physical health of the employees
All the people in this generation are ingrained with the word ‘stress’. According to the ‘Oxford
Dictionary’ stress is a “situation of interaction linking demand on substantial or mental power”.
Renowned psychologist Hans Selye first described the theory of stress which reflects the
psychological stability of the peoples and the feelings or stress occurs in spite of it (Zeighampour
and Shojaeian, 2019).
Different types of stress that impacts the employees
There are three type of stress which can impact the psychological stability of the employees.
They are-
Acute Stress
Acute stress seems to be the stress originating from daily interactions with the world, frequently
due to temporary struggle.
Chronic Stress
Chronic stress is the outcome of pressure that wears on a working person and puts the person in
danger of suffering from negative consequences of stress, including stressful diseases, as a result
of work-relative problems (e.g. conflicts with the boss) (Zhang, and Gao, 2019).
Traumatic Stress
Traumatic stress is pressure outside the standard coping ability of the person, like an accident,
harassment or catastrophe.
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Figure: 1. Types of Stress
(Source: Zhang, and Gao, 2019)
Role of environment for the arising of the stress
The environment of the workplace is very effective for arise the stress level in the employees.
Proper communication gap, non friendly behaviour of the seniors can be a vital cause of stress
for the employees (Salas-Wright and Schwartz, 2019). The over workload, sometimes becomes a
very effective cause of mental and physical stress of the employees. The insecurity of the job can
also play a vital role to increase the level of stress among the employees. In these situations a
person reacts in two different ways, one is positive and one is negative.
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Figure: 2. Environmental Stress
(Source: Salas-Wright and Schwartz, 2019)
I. Eustress
Eustress motivates employees to get involved and to become more effective. It improves
exposure, attention and enthusiasm in carrying out the task (Tucker et al., 2019). Eustress can
improve ability to do the job, reduce mistakes and encourage positive impulses, all of which
affect the overall drive for success for an employee.
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Figure: 3. Eustresess
(Source: Tucker et al, 2019)
II. Distress:
Negative stress or distress can take place without context and clarity. Distress can reduce
the performance of overwhelming employees can affect productivity and determination
negatively (Tucker et al., 2019). Long distress periods may lead to burnout and further
difficulties in physical and mental health.
Figure: 4. Impact of Eustress and Distress
(Source: Salas-Wright and Schwartz, 2019)
III. Fight or flight impact on nervous system
The main impact of the stress goes through the nervous system of the people which make a
control over the body reactions of the peoples (Salas-Wright and Schwartz, 2019). The first
reaction of a sympathetic nervous system is epinephrine (adrenaline) in the blood stream that
directly affects the corpse (e.g. accelerate cardiac velocity).
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Figure: Fight or Flight
(Source: Tucker et al., 2019)
Evaluation of Labelling Theory
Mental illness diagnosis has become more and more instantiated. Individuals are labelled instead
of having a mental illness; they are seen as being mentally ill. Regrettably, mental illness is
associated with negative stereotypes. The stress of being branded mentally ill as per the labelling
theory, it tends to cause one to be mentally ill as a consequence
of intensive psychological effects made by labelling and can lead to predictive mental illness.
Since the publication of the first edition of the “Mental Disorders Diagnostic” and “Statistical
Manual”, mental illness has been gradually identified. The development of the theory of
labelling introduced the concept that just being labelled mentally unstable makes one mentally ill
(Markowitz, 2017). By pranks, films and public, people learn negative stereotypes. Such
stereotypes are internalised by individuals and these internalised ideas become relevant when
they become mentally ill and often led individuals to control self-concepts of other. The labelled
individual fails to understand how others expect from him as a person who is mentally ill.
Evaluating the relevant research regarding the labelling
One critique refers to the very foundations of actual research on labelling theory. The techniques
used in these early studies were to compare hospitalisation rates in high socioeconomic status
groups with those of lower socioeconomic status groups (Scheff, 2017). Those of lower social
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status are thought to be less immune to labelling results and would, therefore, be treated more
frequently than people with higher standing. It has been verified consistently that low-status
classes in hospitals have been overrepresented.
Findings of the modified theory
A modified version of the branding concept has been introduced two decades later. The most
significant difference between the upgraded version and the concept of “Scheff” was the
elimination of correlation connotations. Thereby, no claim was made by the new theory that
labelling triggered the mental disease. Therefore, the theory is modified and the model of
“Scheff” is tasted. The negative effect of labelling is facilitated by semi-adaptive coping
reactions throughout the Link model (Lucksted and Drapalski, 2015). Therefore, by adapting the
theory, it was found that a mental illness label impairs the self-efficacy of individuals as they
begin to fear unmanageable negative responses. An individual may respond to his or her mental
illness by silence, isolation or preventive learning. In general, the first and second forms of
reaction may have negative effects on self-concept as well.
Evaluation of Stigma and Self-sigma
The impact of labelling in psyche is more extensively evident by the “Stigma and self-sigma”
approaches where by processing it has been identified that stigmatization, through processes,
seems to have a negative impact on self-concept, Individuals come to fear rejection because of
negative experiences of racism and stigmatization (Matsueda, 2017). Consequently, it would
result in fewer interactions and thus low self-esteem.
Figure: 2. Labelling Theory Framework
(Source: Bernburg, 2019)
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Conclusion
Thus, by evaluating the contextual study it can be identified that the mental illness holds an
extensive stature among all other social issues. The occurrence of mental illness generally leads
individuals to agony and depression resulting in excessive psychological pressure degrading
proficiency of workplace. Thus, as depicted in the study both contextual “Stress theory” and
“Labelling Theory” illustrated a comprehensive regarding the factor in distinctive approaches.
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References
Bernburg, J.G., 2019. Labeling theory. In Handbook on crime and deviance (pp. 179-196).
Springer, Cham.
Jalali, M.H., Zargar, O. and Baghani, M., 2019. Size-dependent vibration analysis of FG
microbeams in thermal environment based on modified couple stress theory. Iranian Journal of
Science and Technology, Transactions of Mechanical Engineering, 43(1), pp.761-771.
Lucksted, A. and Drapalski, A.L., 2015. Self-stigma regarding mental illness: Definition, impact,
and relationship to societal stigma.
Markowitz, F.E., 2017. Labeling theory and mental illness. In Labeling Theory (pp. 45-62).
Routledge.
Matsueda, R.L., 2017. The natural history of labeling theory. In Labeling Theory (pp. 13-44).
Routledge.
Salas-Wright, C.P. and Schwartz, S.J., 2019. The study and prevention of alcohol and other drug
misuse among migrants: toward a transnational theory of cultural stress. International Journal of
Mental Health and Addiction, 17(2), pp.346-369.
Scheff, T.J., 2017. Being Mentally Ill: A Sociological Study. Routledge.
Tucker, R.P., Testa, R.J., Reger, M.A., Simpson, T.L., Shipherd, J.C. and Lehavot, K., 2019.
Current and military‐specific gender minority stress factors and their relationship with suicide
ideation in transgender veterans. Suicide and Life‐Threatening Behavior, 49(1), pp.155-166.
Zeighampour, H. and Shojaeian, M., 2019. Buckling analysis of functionally graded sandwich
cylindrical micro/nanoshells based on the couple stress theory. Journal of Sandwich Structures
& Materials, 21(3), pp.917-937.
Zhang, G.Y. and Gao, X.L., 2019. A non-classical Kirchhoff rod model based on the modified
couple stress theory. Acta Mechanica, 230(1), pp.243-264.
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