Leonard Pearlin’s Theory
of Psychological Distress
By: Maeghan & Saemah
Basic Premise & Theory
Suggests that humans are in a state of prepetual change for their
entire lives. Development is unique to the individual, although
common patterns can be predicted by looking at the various
social factors. However, this theory disagrees with the stage
theory.
● Lifes requires distress in order for continuous change
● People continuously change due to situations and the stresses that come
along with them to help them evolve
● Changes in behaviour are from socialized responses to the social clock,
instead of age linked interchange. ( stages of maturity)
●
Early adults must make major changes in their behaviour.
( new responsibilities, transitioning into adults etc.)
Fig.1
Fig.2
4 Path Determining Elements
Individual characteristics
Coping Skills
Social Support
Fig. 3
Nature & timing of stress
Individual Characteristics
● Individual characteristics can affect your life choices
→ Gender, race, intelligence, personality, family
background etc..
Example: Your intelligence can determine how well you
can be educated & how far you can go with your career
Coping Skills
● Do you have the skills to cope with stress?
--> Part time job, social expectations, postsecondary process, relationships, can all
induce stress.
Social Support
● Too much support ( helicopter parents)
● No support ( abandonment)
● Guidance counselors, parents, teacher,
friends, kids help phone
Timing of Stress
-Fired unexpectedly, financial issues,
unexpected pregnancy,mid-life crisis
-Timing of stress can impact you
psychologically and challenges you mentally
Fig. 5
Continuous Life Stages
>Individuals change and mature due to experiencing
distress ( social clock)
>Role changing, by socializing
>Cohort effect, changes in behaviour are a result of the
social clock, not age linked changes
Relevance to Society & Adolescence
- A lot of people do go through this
- Change through experience
-Adolesence are always changing
Strengths
&
> The study of adult development
and psychological distress
determines the difference in
vulnerability to stressful
circumstances of different groups
in society
> Many people could relate to his
theory
> Acknowledges the different
factors that may change a persons
life
Weaknesses
-
Disagrees with lifes stage
theories
-
Goes against structural
functionalism
Discussion Questions
● Do you believe that some people are more mature
than others based on the stress that they have
endured and overcame?
● Do you think that the amount of social support an
individual has an effect on the coping skills?
● Do you think gender,race, religion and cultural
expectations all have a effect on coping skills?
Secondary Source
https://campus.fsu.edu/bbcswebdav/instituti
on/academic/social_sciences/sociology/Readi
ng%20Lists/Mental%20Health%20Readings/Pear
lin-HealthSocial-1989.pdf
Works Cited
Fig.1 Katherine Hogen. (2014). Decompress with Acupunctur. Retrieved Nov. 05 2014.
from: < http://mytherapynyc.com/stress-decompress-with-acupuncture/>.
Fig.2 Unknown. Tips for Managing Stress. Retrieved Nov. 05 2014.
from: <http://access.ewu.edu/caps/selfhelp/stressmanage>.
Fig.3 Unknown. (2012). Change Ahead. Retrieved Nov. 03 2014.
from: < http://sunlight.sunesys.com/?attachment_id=149>.
Fig.4 Unknown. Emotional Support.Retrieved Nov. 03 2014.
from: < http://www.stress.org/emotional-and-social-support/>.
Fig.5 Unknown. Timing Functions. Retreived Nov. 05 2014.
from: < http://garagelab.com/profiles/blogs/tutorial-timing-functions-with-arduino>.
HHSKCIWEBSITE. ( Oct. 27. 2014). Adolescence and Young Adulthood. Retreived: Nov. 05 2014
from:<http://hhskci.weebly.com/unit-2-adolescence-and-young-adulthood.html>.
Unknown. Theories on Adult Development. Retrieved: Nov. 02 2014
from: < https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VhHrVoHYiZIDKv_OTKVZyy88QkcXeVw-m5hhHY3ZPn4/edit?hl=en_US>.