Abstract
M.Ed. (Psychology of Education)
This research study originated from the belief that teachers in general,
and secondary school teachers in particular, are under an inordinate
amount of stress brought about largely as a result of their work as
teachers and educators. Moving from that basic premise the research
unfolded towards exploring at both theoretical and empirical level, the
major causes and management of stress in education within a South African
educational context.
The study starts with a carefully structured Statement of the Problem,
which provides valid reasons why this research is needed (i.e. the
motivation for this study), it lists the key areas of concern under
'specific statement of problem', the details regarding the purpose and
plan are made clear and finally the method of research is stated. The
point is made in this chapter that the basic motive of this research study
is to help teachers understand and manage stress in a far more efficient
we.
The second chapter introduces the challenges of Defining Stress and
attempts to appraise several current definitions and approaches to this
problem. After a consideration of the now classical General Adaptation
Syndrome (GAS), some pertinent reactions to stress are listed, the
experience of stress is discussed and the three current approaches, or
definitions of stress, namely: response-based, stimulus-based and
interaction, are defined and debated.