Frustration in psychology and sociology - how to deal with frustration? Frustration of needs. Frustrating situation. External and internal obstacles. The problem of accepting a motive by an individual
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The state of frustration is familiar to every person. True, not everyone at this moment realizes that it is called that way. Frustration is understood as a whole behavioral mechanism in which the experience of a range of negative emotions caused by disappointment can be traced. This phenomenon is natural, and it is not always possible to avoid it. Frustration is inherent in absolutely every person, regardless of age (in young children this condition occurs even more often), gender and social status. As they say, the rich cry too.
Examples from life
The easiest way to explain a complex psychological term is with examples. The first, the simplest: you go to the store to buy a specific dress. You don’t just want it, but you have already made certain plans, selected shoes and a handbag specifically for it.
Arriving at the store, you discover that there is no dress. And you won’t find anything similar in the city. This is where you fall into a state of frustration. This is not just, as they say, a bummer, but a violation of many plans. You can’t think rationally for several minutes: all you can think about is that everything has gone wrong.
Another striking, but more global example fits the description of frustration: betrayal. Frustration sets in immediately after the news that your loved one or even your legal spouse has cheated on you. The world is collapsing, an internal struggle between pride and feelings begins. Something that is no longer destined to come true floats before your eyes: a life together, a happy future, perhaps a planned one. major purchase or trip. Such frustration will last longer than from a failed dress purchase.
Having received a rough idea of what frustration is, you can give it a short, but more understandable definition. This is disappointment on the way to satisfying some need. Translated from Latin, frustration means “deception”, “failure”, “vain expectation”. Actually, this can also be called the concept of frustration. There is another term from this area: frustrator. This is the name given to the cause of frustration.
Manifestations
It all depends on the situation in which the person finds himself. If it is, say, the same dress, then the person will be upset, but will still be able to find a way out of the situation. In the case of betrayal, everything is much more complicated and significant. The person may become severely depressed. Psychologists identify several stages in the development of emotions in a state of frustration, some of which can be skipped in relieved states. To make it clearer, we will use a dress that is already familiar to us as an example.
- Aggression. It almost always occurs and can be short-term (swear, stomp your foot out of frustration) or long-term (get very angry, start to get nervous) in nature.
- Substitution. The person begins to unwittingly get out of the situation, coming up with a new way to satisfy the need (find another store where you can buy the same dress).
- Bias. If substitution does not work, then the person looks for an easier way to be satisfied (for example, buy another dress instead of the desired one, not so beautiful, but at least something).
- Rationalization. In other words, looking for the positives in what happened (I didn’t buy a dress, but I saved money).
- Regression. The opposite of rationalization. It is characteristic of pessimists who begin to lament and worry emotionally.
- Depression, stress. A sharp decline in mood that is difficult to restore. This stage does not always occur.
- Fixation. The final stage, the way out of frustration. A person draws conclusions that allow him to avoid getting into similar situations in the future. Feelings and thoughts about lost satisfaction are consolidated.
A special case of an aggressive reaction to frustration is shifting blame to circumstances. Simply put, a person begins to convince himself that “I didn’t really want it.” A classic example: I.A. Krylov’s fable “The Fox and the Grapes.” The fox wanted to eat the berries, but could not get them. And then she reassured herself that the grapes were unripe, and that even if she had reached for them, she would have set her teeth on edge. Such psychological technique helps people overcome the stage of depression and maintain a cheerful mood.
There is another classification of states of frustration. These are several types of frustration behavior. Even those who are not interested in psychology can easily identify them by remembering themselves and those around them:
- apathy (staring aimlessly into the distance or withdrawing into oneself);
- motor agitation (walking around the room, active gesticulation);
- aggression (anger, nervousness);
- regression (crying, desperate screams).
Psychologists say that the type of behavior during frustration depends not on the type of unsatisfied need, but on the character of the person. That is, a choleric person will get angry and scream, a melancholic or phlegmatic person will most likely withdraw into themselves. A sanguine person can frustrate in different ways.
Frustration according to Maslow
Abraham Maslow, the author of the famous theory of needs, also spoke about frustration. It is noteworthy that its manifestations can be inversely proportional to the well-known pyramid. To begin, let us briefly recall the hierarchy of human needs.
What is expressed in inverse proportionality? Let's look at two examples of frustration. First: you didn’t have time to buy your favorite pizza for the evening and remained hungry (physiological need). Second: new position you didn’t get it (self-expression). In which case will you worry more? Of course, in the second, despite the fact that this need comes in last place.
Maslow's need frustration has another interesting note. The psychologist is confident that until a person satisfies a higher-level need, he will not become a victim of frustration due to the unsatisfaction of the needs of the following stages. In other words, for a person who has problems with housing, an upset date will not be so serious.
Causes of the condition
Frustration in psychology develops for two reasons: external and internal. External circumstances include various real circumstances: the flight was delayed, a tire burst, a certificate was not issued on time, etc. The internal causes of frustration lie deeper and depend on the personal characteristics and qualities of the person. This may be a lack of ambition to occupy a high position or uncertainty during the driving test.
If frustration occurs due to external factors, a person experiences this easier, because there is an opportunity to shift the blame. If the cause of failure was personal traits personality, then in the worst case it risks turning into self-flagellation. At best, the person will draw conclusions and correct mistakes (for example, better prepare to retake the exam).
Love
Despite the fact that the need for love is in third place in the hierarchy, people very often experience love frustration. This phenomenon is interesting because disappointment in love often only intensifies feelings. Although, psychologists believe that this is a defensive reaction to betrayal or betrayal. That is, a person who has suffered from unrequited love becomes even more attached to the object of his sympathy. Why? Because he is afraid that this wonderful feeling will never arise in him again. Doctors would call it an autoimmune disease.
But outwardly, love frustration can manifest itself very unexpectedly. Vivid aggression, caused by a frustrated state and supplemented by mental problems, is often directed at the object of love. This is where criminal cases involving throwing acid or threatening a lover arise.
There are also many cases of frustration in sex. A classic example for a man: lack of erection or inability to satisfy his partner. The woman also has a typical sexual frustration, characterized by difficulties in achieving orgasm, which are repeated again and again. This frustrated state will begin to manifest itself especially clearly after the woman experiences an orgasm and already knows what it is and what she has lost once again.
How to cope?
This condition is sometimes impossible to avoid, and it mainly brings disappointment and emotional decline. But frustration can and should be fought, striving to ensure that the negativity does not cause so much harm nervous system, did not spoil the mood and was not an obstacle to achieving the goal. What do psychologists advise?
- Autotraining. The simplest thing a person can try to do in the first seconds after the onset of a state of frustration. Count to 10, take a deep breath and exhale.
- Accept the situation and try to get rid of the victim syndrome. If nothing can be changed, there is no need to lament and think, “But if only everything were different...”. This will only make your situation worse and make you even more upset.
- Prepare in advance and plan ahead possible problems in advance. A classic example: leave for the station in advance, saving a few minutes for force majeure (traffic jams, for example).
- Ability to switch. Some people, on the contrary, increase their frustration with sad thoughts, sad songs or watching gloomy TV shows. But you need to do the opposite. Did something go wrong? Well, let it be, but now I can go to the store and buy myself something tasty. And the headphones must play cheerful rhythmic music, which puts you in a positive mood and thinking.
Sooner or later a person reaches such a state as frustration tolerance. This is the ability to withstand unfavorable situations and come out of them with honor, and sometimes even with benefit for oneself. Some people think that this is an entire art, but in fact it is enough to master the above techniques.
Frustration
(from Latin frustratio - deception, frustration, destruction of plans) -
1) , expressed in the characteristic features of experiences and behavior caused by objectively insurmountable (or subjectively understood) difficulties that arise on the way to achieving a goal or solving a problem;
2) a state of collapse and depression caused by the experience of failure.
Historically, the problem of f. is associated with the works of S. Freud and his followers, who saw an unambiguous connection between f. and aggression. Within behaviorist theories F. was defined as a change or inhibition of the expected reaction under certain conditions, as an obstacle to activity. Currently, many authors use the concept of physical activity and psychological stress as synonyms; some reasonably consider F. as private form psychological stress. It is also legitimate to consider F. in the context of interpersonal functioning, and from this point of view, the sphere of interpersonal conflicts and difficulties that can arise in a wide variety of situations is of interest to researchers. life situations, including in everyday life.
Brief psychological dictionary. - Rostov-on-Don: “PHOENIX”. L.A. Karpenko, A.V. Petrovsky, M. G. Yaroshevsky. 1998 .
Frustration
A mental state of experiencing failure, caused by the impossibility of satisfying certain needs, arising in the presence of real or imaginary insurmountable obstacles on the way to a certain goal. May be considered a form of psychological stress. It manifests itself in feelings of disappointment, anxiety, irritability, and finally despair. In this case, the efficiency of operations is significantly reduced.
In connection with frustration there are different:
1 ) frustrator - the reason causing frustration;
2 ) the situation is frustrating;
3 ) the reaction is frustrating.
Frustration is accompanied by gamma mainly negative emotions: anger, irritation, guilt, etc. The level of frustration depends on:
1 ) on the strength, intensity of the frustrator;
2 ) from the state of a functional person who finds himself in a frustrating situation;
3 ) from the stable forms that developed during the formation of personality emotional response to life's difficulties.
An important concept when studying frustration is frustration tolerance - resistance to frustrators, which is based on the ability to adequately assess a frustrating situation and foresee a way out of it.
Dictionary of a practical psychologist. - M.: AST, Harvest. S. Yu. Golovin. 1998.
Frustration Etymology.
Comes from Lat. frustratio - deception, futile expectation.
Category.A negative mental state caused by the inability to satisfy certain needs.
Specificity.Psychological Dictionary. THEM. Kondakov. 2000.
FRUSTRATION
(from lat. frustatio- deception, futile expectation) - caused by failure to satisfy ,desires. F.'s condition is accompanied by various negative symptoms. feelings: disappointment, irritation, anxiety, despair, etc. F. arise in situations of conflict, when, for example, the satisfaction of a need encounters insurmountable or difficult to overcome obstacles. A high level of F. leads to disorganization of activities and a decrease in its effectiveness.
The emergence of F. is due not only to the objective situation, but also depends on the characteristics of the individual. F. in children occurs in the form of an experienced “feeling of collapse” when a purposeful action encounters an obstacle. The reason for F. may be failure to master the subject, an unexpected ban from an adult, etc. Frequent F. lead to the formation of negative. behavioral traits, aggressiveness, increased excitability, inferiority complex. Cm. ,Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis.
Large psychological dictionary. - M.: Prime-EVROZNAK. Ed. B.G. Meshcheryakova, acad. V.P. Zinchenko. 2003 .
Frustration
FRUSTRATION (With. 633) (from Latin frustratio - deception, unjustified expectation, disappointment) - a mental state of tension, anxiety, despair that occurs when a person encounters insurmountable obstacles (real or imaginary) on the way to achieving significant goals.
If a person experiences a certain need (and it can be artificially provoked!), but there is something that prevents its satisfaction, then he loses his mental balance and becomes irritated.
Psychologists studied this phenomenon using a simple experiment. The subjects were told that they would be tested on their dexterity and intelligence. Then they were given a seemingly simple task: with the help of several devices, reach a pyramid consisting of rings and disassemble it step by step. The only difficulty was that the participants in the experiment were forbidden to leave the outlined circle. But it was precisely this difficulty that was insurmountable: the experimenter specially outlined the circle in such a way that it became physically impossible to complete the task without violating the prohibition. The experiment showed: most of the subjects, after long unsuccessful attempts, lost their temper, began to scream and swear, and sometimes the experimenter had to hastily retreat to avoid assault.
Every person has become a victim of similar circumstances more than once. The most balanced people, as a rule, find enough strength in themselves not to take out their irritation on others. However, driven inside, it does not disappear, but continues to torment a person, sometimes for quite a long time.
The strength of frustration depends on the degree of significance of the blocked behavior and on the subjective proximity of achieving the goal. The occurrence of frustration is not only determined by the objective situation, but also depends on the characteristics of the individual. Unjustifiably high self-esteem and the associated inflated level of aspirations inevitably lead to a collision real possibilities man and the difficulties of the tasks that he recklessly sets for himself. Situations and states of frustration quite often arise during the interaction of people, including in the educational process. A typical example of a frustrating effect is a teacher’s prohibition or parental punishment in the form of depriving the child of something very desirable or attractive. Frequent and prolonged frustration can lead to negative changes in character, the emergence of neuroses, and the consolidation of aggressive forms of behavior. Resistance to frustration is associated, in particular, with individual characteristics higher nervous activity. At the same time, it is higher in those people who are characterized by high degree awareness and self-regulation of behavior, internal mental harmony, creative attitude to life.
Popular psychological encyclopedia. - M.: Eksmo. S.S. Stepanov. 2005.
Synonyms:See what “frustration” is in other dictionaries:
frustration- and, f. frustration f., German Frustration lat. frustratio deception; failure, failure; breakdown psycho. A psychological state that arises as a result of disappointment, failure to achieve something. a goal, need that is significant for a person and manifests itself in... ... Historical Dictionary Gallicisms of the Russian language
FRUSTRATION- [lat. frustratio deception, futile expectation, frustration, destruction (of plans, intentions), from frustror I deceive, make futile, upset], psychological. a state of oppressive tension, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness and despair;... ... Philosophical Encyclopedia
FRUSTRATION- [lat. frustratio deception, failure] 1) frustration, breakdown, collapse of plans, intentions, hopes, etc.; 2) psychol. mental discomfort due to the discrepancy between the internal and external pictures of the world; a state that arises from disappointment, lack of fulfillment... ... Dictionary foreign words Russian language
frustration- state, anxiety, depression, hopelessness Dictionary of Russian synonyms. frustration noun, number of synonyms: 10 hopelessness (13) ... Synonym dictionary
Frustration- Frustration ♦ Frustration The absence of something with the inability to get it or refuse the desire to have it. Thus, it differs from hope (which can be satisfied), mourning (renunciation of being) and pleasure (which is... ... Sponville's Philosophical Dictionary
FRUSTRATION- (from Latin frustratio deception, failure), psychological state. It arises in a situation of disappointment, failure to achieve any goal or need that is significant for a person. Manifests itself in oppressive tension, anxiety, and a feeling of hopelessness.... ... Modern encyclopedia
FRUSTRATION- (from Lat. frustratio deception, failure), a psychological state that arises in a situation of disappointment, failure to achieve any goal or need that is significant for a person. It manifests itself in oppressive tension, anxiety, and a feeling of hopelessness. Reaction... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
Frustration- (from Latin frustratio deception, futile expectation) a negative mental state caused by the inability to satisfy certain needs. This state manifests itself in experiences of disappointment, anxiety, irritability, and finally... ... Psychological Dictionary
FRUSTRATION- (from lat. frusratio self-deception, failure, greatest hope) English. frustration; German Frustration. 1. A state of mental disorganization that occurs in a person as a result of awareness of the collapse of hopes, the impossibility of achieving set goals and... ... Encyclopedia of Sociology
FRUSTRATION- (from Latin frustratio - deception, futile expectation, frustration). A mental state of tension, anxiety, despair that occurs when a person encounters insurmountable obstacles (real or imaginary) on the way to achieving goals... ... New dictionary of methodological terms and concepts (theory and practice of language teaching)
Everyone knows the feeling that occurs when a desire that seemed achievable suddenly becomes unattainable. In psychology, this experience is designated by the word “frustration.”
In psychology, briefly, frustration is a mental state that occurs during blockade purposeful activities. “Frustratio”, translated from Latin, means “failure”, “vain expectation”, “deception”, “disorder of plan”.
Examples of frustrating situations:
- diagnosis of infertility for a couple dreaming of children;
- the desire to see the deceased person again;
- unrealized love for a woman who remains faithful to her husband.
To satisfy a certain need, an individual chooses a goal and organizes his actions, trying to achieve it. When the possibility of carrying out a plan encounters insurmountable obstacles, the chain of events “desire, goal - result” is broken, and mental stress arises. The state of frustration can find expression ranging from a slight feeling of annoyance to a feeling of hopelessness and the experience of acute mental pain.
The strength of frustration depends on the influence of the following factors.
- The degree of proximity to the intended goal. If activity is blocked at the final stage of achieving the plan, the strength of frustration increases. For example, a bowl of aromatic soup is already on the table, “under your nose,” but it is suddenly taken away.
- Level of energy consumption. The more effort, time and other resources spent on achieving the goal, the greater the frustration. Losing in a sports competition for which you were not prepared at all is not as disappointing as losing after a year of grueling training.
- Intensity of frustrated desire. A suddenly missed lunch will cause less negative feelings in a person who had breakfast than in someone who has not eaten since yesterday and is very hungry.
- Attractiveness of the target. The situation that caused the frustration reaction must be very personally significant for the person. The most severe frustration is observed when a person’s leading activity is blocked. Because it is usually with its help that the need for meaning in life is satisfied. For example, a person who positions himself primarily as a pianist injures his hand and is deprived of the opportunity to play music professionally. He experiences much more stress than a person for whom playing the piano is nothing more than a hobby.
- The intensity of the frustrator is the degree of complexity of the obstacle that has arisen on the way to the goal. Here the question arises about the adequacy of the assessment of the frustration situation. Sometimes the insurmountability of emerging obstacles is greatly exaggerated or, conversely, underestimated at the planning stage of activities, which leads to a frustrating reaction.
- The functional state of a person caught in a frustrating situation. Accumulated stress as a result of previous failures can provoke a strong surge of negative emotions in response to even the weakest provocation.
- The individual level of frustration tolerance is the threshold of tolerance for frustration, the ability to endure the difficulties that arise in life without mental changes and disorganization of behavior.
Reasons for the development of frustration
Circumstances that provoke a state of frustration can be divided into three categories:
- Privation - original absence necessary tools and resources for For example, the lack of vocal abilities to build a career in the opera house.
- Deprivation is the loss of objects previously used to satisfy a need and to which a strong attachment was formed. For example, the death of a child, a fire in the house in which he lived his whole life.
- Conflict is the impossibility of satisfying a need due to the presence of two mutually incompatible motives, ambivalent feelings, or conflicts of interests. For example, a university professor’s desire to have an affair with a student is met with the conviction that this is unprofessional and unethical.
Factors that cause frustration are called frustrators. These can be various circumstances, situations, people and their actions that arise on the way to realizing a desire in the form of an insurmountable barrier. Psychology considers following types frustrators:
- physical (imprisonment, lack of money, time);
- biological (diseases, physical disabilities, age restrictions);
- social (other individuals and conflicts with them, social norms, laws, sanctions);
- psychological (limited knowledge, insufficient level of development of abilities, fears, doubts, internal conflicts).
Obstacles in the form of unfavorable external circumstances are easier to bear psychologically because they allow you to transfer blame from yourself to other objects. If a person sees the cause of failure in himself, this often leads to self-flagellation.
The development of frustration is also influenced by the legitimacy of the frustrators and the claims of the individual. In most cases, if a person is convinced that his legal rights were somehow violated, he experiences more pronounced frustration.
Reaction to frustration
The primary reaction to a frustrating situation is usually aggression, which is either suppressed, appearing in the form of irritability, or openly expressed in the form of anger. The secondary reaction depends on temperament, on the forms of response to life’s difficulties that have developed during life.
A person with a high level of frustration tolerance quickly copes with negative feelings and may show surprise, cognitive interest in relation to an object, a situation that prevents the achievement of a goal, sports passion. A person with low adaptation skills slides down the emotional scale and falls into more severe emotional states than irritation and anger. Depressive reactions, increased anxiety, and fears are observed.
Depression can be seen as the opposite of aggression. Characterized by a feeling of powerlessness, hopelessness, a feeling that “life is over,” apathy, and loss of motivation.
Often there is an obsessive fixation on an activity that has become useless or even dangerous in the new conditions. Fixation is associated with mental rigidity, stereotypical perception and thinking, the inability to “let go of the situation”, to switch to new goal, abandon previous ways of interacting with the outside world. A particular form of fixation is capricious behavior. Fixation is also characterized by a kind of mania, when the failure that has occurred absorbs all a person’s thoughts, forces him to endlessly analyze his behavior and study the frustrator in detail.
Depending on the direction of aggression, reactions are distinguished:
- extrapunitive reaction (anger, anger, indignation) - the desire to blame others for what happened;
- intropunitive response (feelings of shame, pangs of conscience) - self-accusation;
- imputative response - a philosophical attitude towards the events that have occurred as something inevitable, the absence of the desire to look for those to blame.
Depending on what a person is fixated on, there are three types of reactions to a frustrating situation:
- fixation on an obstacle: “it’s so unfair, we need to fight this,” “wow, it’s even more interesting to play this way”;
- fixation on self-defense: “if you had explained everything to me right away, I would have managed it”;
- fixation on need satisfaction: active search for solutions and help from others or the position “somehow everything will be resolved by itself.”
Behavioral patterns for frustration
A prolonged inability to resolve a frustrating situation leads to the development of anxiety, which, in turn, forces one to look for a way to avoid negative experiences or at least minimize their strength. The ego-protective mechanisms of the psyche come into play. Action defense mechanisms leads to a distortion of the perception of those aspects of reality with which a person is not able to come to terms. The process is not realized by the person, because otherwise the ego-protective mechanisms would lose their power.
Each specific person has his own individual “repertoire” of protective behavior (depending on personality type, gender, age). Let's look at the manifestations of the most common
crowding out
Repression is the elimination of frustrating memories and experiences from the area of consciousness. In psychoanalysis, the mechanism of repression is considered as a way of adapting to dangerous internal drives. At the external level, it manifests itself in the form of unmotivated forgetting or ignoring objects that cause psychological discomfort. However, suppressed feelings and memories do not go away. For example, they easily recover from a state of hypnotic trance.
Substitution
Substitution is the replacement of an object or need with others that are more accessible and safer for discharge. The action of this mechanism explains how troubles at work provoke quarrels at home. The inability to enter into an open conflict with superiors leads to the discharge of aggression on a more dependent spouse or child.
If the replaced action or desire is morally unacceptable, but the replacement is acceptable, then this process is called sublimation. For example, the same aggression can be discharged by engaging in intense physical exercise.
Substitution can also include withdrawal into fantasy, dependence on psychoactive substances. As well as devaluing the frustrating object or need. For example, after, a person gives up trying to build a personal life, explaining his behavior by the insignificance of this area of life compared to the importance of building a career or, for example, “spiritual self-development.”
The replacement of one feeling with another, usually the opposite, is called reactive transformation. In this case, unacceptable emotions cease to be recognized, and acceptable ones become hypertrophied. For example, paranoid individuals can suppress attraction and interest in another person, considering these feelings dangerous for themselves, and shift the emphasis to suspicion and hatred.
Intellectualization
This mechanism of psychological defense consists of a logical understanding of events from the perspective of good-bad, useful-useless and relegating to the background the significance of information that is provided by actually experienced emotions. An example of intellectualization is a person’s reasoning that death brought his deceased relative relief from physical suffering and other troubles of life.
Intellectualization makes it possible to reduce the intensity of painful experiences without resorting to a complete loss of information about their presence. When faced with a frustrating situation, intellectualization is perceived as a mature approach to the problem, and therefore usually finds approval and support in society and becomes an attractive strategy for many people.
However, intellectualization also has its disadvantages. It leads to the loss of the opportunity to fully experience one’s feelings - both negative and positive. As a result, a person has problems in close relationships, since self-expression under the influence of intellectualization gives the impression of insincerity and indifference.
Regression
Experiencing a state of frustration according to the theory of K. Alderfer leads to a shift down the levels of needs. That is, if it is impossible to satisfy the needs of some hierarchical level, unrealized energy is directed to the needs of the same or lower level that are available to satisfy.
Thus, the inability for some reason to realize one’s talent or calling can lead one down the path of seeking self-affirmation in society (a dizzying career, high social status as an end in itself).
The inability to realize oneself in society results in the creation of love or friendship relationships that compensate for the feeling of loss of self-worth. Feeling the weakness of his “I”, a person can “join” another, self-realized person and feel his importance. “I am the wife of a respected professor,” “I am the best friend of a successful actor.”
The inability to realize the needs of the two highest levels inevitably leads to abuse at the lower level. A person sleeps and eats too much. He buys things he doesn’t need, just to fill the inner emptiness.
Frustration in personal life
It’s interesting because difficulties in realizing romantic feelings only increase people’s attraction to each other. Other needs, desires and interests fade into the background.
Outwardly, love frustration can find expression in behavior that cannot be called actions. loving person. The proverb “hitting means loving” takes on a new meaning within the framework of the study of frustration in psychology. A surge of aggression caused by frustration is often directed at the object of sympathy. Hence the criminal stories with the pursuit of the object of passion, outbursts of jealousy, throwing acid, sexual and physical violence.
Frustration also occurs when a partner is objectively unable to satisfy our emotional needs. For example, a woman hopes that when she meets a man who loves her, she will finally feel loved, adored, and beautiful. However, he is faced with the fact that in a relationship he begins to feel even more acutely self-doubt, his “imperfection”.
And all because not even the most ideal partner is able to compensate for the lack of self-love. No matter how much attention the partner pays to the woman in this example, she will always not have enough. And she will experience frustration every time a man switches his attention to other areas of life - work, friends, hobbies, even common children.
Is it possible to avoid frustration in love? Of course, but only if a person has mental maturity and strives to create equal relationships, relying on the psychological resource of the partner, and on his own strength.
Poverty as a frustrator
In chronic conditions, people's concepts about the nature of happiness change. It is useful to remember a parable here. The poor man complains about the cramped conditions of his one-room apartment, in which he has to huddle with all his numerous relatives. The wise man advises the poor man to temporarily place a dog, poultry and other living creatures in the same room in order to experience what is truly a catastrophic situation. Happiness is relative.
Poverty leads to frustration not only when it is not possible to satisfy basic personal and family needs. Financial situation becomes a powerful frustration when society consists of people with different income levels. Despite an objectively high standard of living, a person drives himself into a state of frustration through upward social comparison.
Particularly strong frustration is observed if a person believes that all rich people create their wealth exclusively through illegal and immoral means. Also, a person’s perception of himself as poor, disadvantaged, depends on the ratio of his aspirations and real achievements.
How to deal with frustration?
Psychologists offer several ways to get out of frustration.
Replacing the means to achieve the goal
Increased mental and emotional stress can be used to analyze the actions taken and search for alternative ways achieving the goal. For example, a girl refused to date you. You are feeling frustrated. Do you feel it? Before you completely fall into pessimism, you should think about the reason why the girl you liked actually rejected you.
Not everyone in love is easy-going. It takes some time to realize that this is the person they dreamed of. It is possible that the girl who rejected you is not sure of her feelings. And it’s easier for her to immediately refuse you than to give you, perhaps, vain hope. Try changing your approach. An alternative solution is to offer a no-obligation friendship to give the person the opportunity to get to know you better.
One more example. I failed to get into my desired university. But is this the only way to gain knowledge in your chosen field? History knows many self-taught people who achieved exceptional results in their field. For example, the Englishwoman Mary Anning, who went from a poor, uneducated fossil collector to one of the greatest paleontologists of the 19th century.
Replacement target
Just as many paths can be found to achieve the same goal, an alternative goal can be discovered by which a need or desire can be satisfied. In hypnotherapy, for example, there are techniques that allow you to transfer the feeling of falling in love from one object to another, and thus get rid of unrequited love.
Of course, a person whose instinct is already firmly fixed on a certain person refuses to believe that he could ever experience such strong feelings for someone else in his life.
It takes patience to find a target that can compensate for the properties of the one being replaced. But if this were impossible, then people would not marry happily several times during their lives and would not find the meaning of life in new activities after losing the opportunity to do what they love. For example, actor A. Banderas wanted to become a football player, but after a leg injury, the dream of sports career I had to refuse. It is unlikely that the world-famous actor is still experiencing frustration due to unfulfilled teenage hopes.
Reassessment of the situation
The obvious solution to getting out of a state of frustration caused by internal conflict is to choose between alternatives. Appeal to both your mind and your emotions.
Weigh the pros and cons of each of your desires. Transfer the analysis process to paper. After writing down all possible arguments, highlight those that are of key importance for your life. Discard the rest. Identifying your core values will help you cope with anxiety and fear. If you cannot cope with the problem on your own, contact a specialist. Psychologist-hypnologist
a state that arises as a result of anxiety about the impossibility of achieving goals and satisfying drives, the collapse of plans and hopes.
The concept of “frustration” is widely used in modern psychological and psychoanalytic literature, but the idea of frustration as a mental state that can lead to neurosis was reflected in classical psychoanalysis. Thus, when considering the etiology of neurotic diseases, S. Freud used the concept of Versagung, meaning refusal, prohibition and most often translated into English as frustration.
For the founder of psychoanalysis, a person’s forced renunciation of something and the ban on satisfying his drives correlated primarily with the impossibility of satisfying the need for love. Moreover, he believed that a person is healthy if his need for love is satisfied by a real object, and becomes neurotic if he is deprived of this object without finding a substitute for it. This is one of the possible causes of mental illness. Another type of reasons for illness is, according to S. Freud, of a different nature, associated with the fact that a person becomes ill not as a result of an external prohibition on satisfying his sexual desires, but due to the internal desire to actually obtain appropriate satisfaction for himself, when an attempt to adapt to reality encounters an insurmountable internal obstacle. In both cases, a neurotic disorder occurs. In the first case, people get sick from experiences, in the second – from the course of development. “In the first case the task is to renounce satisfaction and the individual suffers from a lack of resistance; in the second the task requires the replacement of one satisfaction by another and the collapse occurs from a lack of flexibility.” This understanding, in fact, of frustration was expressed by the founder of psychoanalysis in the article “On the types of neurotic diseases” (1912).
As the theory and practice of psychoanalysis developed, it became obvious that neurotic diseases can arise not only as a result of a person’s refusal to satisfy desires, but also at the moment of their fulfillment, when he destroys the opportunity to enjoy this fulfillment. In some cases, when achieving success, a person may suddenly experience internal dissatisfaction after external dissatisfaction gives way to the fulfillment of desire. Reflecting on “crash during success,” S. Freud drew attention to the intrapsychic conflict that arises under the influence of the forces of conscience that prohibit a person from benefiting from happily changed external conditions. It was about the frustration to which a person is exposed when his ego arms itself against desire as soon as it approaches fulfillment. A similar understanding of the frustrated state of a person is reflected in the work of the founder of psychoanalysis, “Some types of characters from psychoanalytic practice” (1916).
In addition to thinking about the frustrated state of a person, S. Freud raised the question of what means a psychoanalyst has to make the currently hidden conflict of desire in a patient relevant. In his opinion, this can be done in two ways: by creating situations in which it becomes relevant, or by being content to talk about it during analysis and point out the possibility. The psychoanalyst can achieve the first goal in reality or in transference. In both cases the analyst will cause the patient a certain degree of "real suffering through frustration and stagnation of libido." Otherwise, as S. Freud emphasized in his work “Finite and Infinite Analysis” (1937), the prescription that analytical therapy should be carried out “in a state of frustration” would make sense. But this already applies to the technique of eliminating an actual conflict.
S. Freud's ideas about frustration formed the basis of those psychoanalytic concepts, according to which frustration necessarily causes hostility, is a source of instinctive tension and becomes the cause of neurotic anxiety. Some psychoanalysts began to adhere to a similar understanding of the role of frustration in the emergence of hostility, aggressiveness of a person and his mental illness. Others did not share similar views on frustration. The latter includes the German-American psychoanalyst K. Horney (1885–1952), who, in her work “New Paths in Psychoanalysis” (1936), criticized the Freudian idea of frustration.
Based on an analysis of the theory of libido, K. Horney came to the following points: the fact that a neurotic person feels frustrated does not allow generalizations to be made about the predetermining role of frustration in the disease; both children and adults can tolerate frustration without any hostile reactions; if frustration is perceived as a humiliating defeat, then the hostile reactions resulting from it are a response not to the frustration of desires, but to the humiliation that the individual subjectively experiences; a person can not only tolerate the frustration of pleasure much more easily than S. Freud believed, but is even capable of “preferring frustration if it guarantees safety”; the doctrine of frustration has contributed significantly to "the decline in the potential of psychoanalytic therapy."
American psychoanalyst E. Fromm (1900–1982) devoted Special attention the relationship between frustration and aggressiveness. In his work “The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness” (1973), he criticized the frustration theory of aggressiveness. Emphasizing the fact that “no important undertaking is complete without frustration,” he, like K. Horney, adhered to the point of view according to which life experience does not confirm the assumption of a direct connection between frustration and hostility, since people suffer every day, receive refusals, but do not show aggressive reactions. In short, frustration does not lead to increased aggressiveness. In fact, as E. Fromm believed, “an important role is played by the psychological significance of frustration for a particular individual, which may vary depending on the general situation.”
In general, E. Fromm proceeded from the fact that the most important factor for determining the consequences of frustration and their intensity is the character of a person and it depends on him, “firstly, what causes frustration in him, and, secondly, how intensely he will react to frustration."
The Austrian psychotherapist W. Frankl (1905–1997) introduced the concept of “existential frustration” into psychoanalytic literature, meaning that not only sexual attraction, but also a person’s desire for meaning can be frustrated. He believed that existential frustration could also lead to neurosis. We were talking about a specific “noogenic” (as opposed to psychogenic) neurosis associated with moral conflicts and spiritual problems of human existence, among which “existential frustration often plays a large role.”
FRUSTRATION
from lat. frustratio - deception, futile expectation) - a negative mental state caused by the IMPOSSIBILITY OF SATISFYING certain needs. This state manifests itself in feelings of disappointment, anxiety, irritability, and finally despair. In this case, the efficiency of operations is significantly reduced.
FRUSTRATION
psychological pain") - blocking purposeful behavior; - 1) deception, misleading; 2) vain hope, failure: in political psychology - a situation of discomfort due to the discrepancy between the external and internal pictures of socio-political reality. (Dictionary, p. 304 )
FRUSTRATION
frustration) A condition that occurs when an obstacle appears, when plans are upset or disappointed. FRUSTRATION and DEPRIVATION are often confused, although, strictly speaking, frustration refers to the consequences associated with the dissatisfaction of a drive or failure to achieve a goal, while deprivation implies the absence of an object or opportunity necessary for satisfaction. However, the frustration and deprivation theories of neurosis converge in the statement that deprivation leads to frustration, frustration leads to AGGRESSION, aggression leads to ANXIETY, anxiety leads to DEFENSE...
Despite the widespread belief that psychoanalysis is convinced of the harm of frustration, this is not entirely true, because psychoanalysis believes that the DEVELOPMENT of the self begins with frustration. In fact, frustration theories of neurosis suggest that both frustration and deprivation are pathogenic above a certain threshold of intensity (st. THRESHOLD).
FRUSTRATION
lat. frustratio - deception, frustration, destruction of plans) - an emotionally difficult experience by a person of his failure, accompanied by a feeling of hopelessness, frustration in achieving a certain desired goal.
FRUSTRATION
a person’s mental state caused by objectively insurmountable (or subjectively perceived) difficulties that arise on the way to achieving a goal or solving a problem; experiencing failure.
FRUSTRATION
A conflictual emotional state that can be caused by difficulties that are insurmountable for a particular individual, preventing the achievement of a goal, the collapse of hopes and the collapse of all plans.
FRUSTRATION
a mental state of experiencing failure, caused by the impossibility of satisfying certain needs, arising in the presence of real or imaginary insurmountable obstacles on the way to a certain goal. May be considered a form of psychological stress. It manifests itself in feelings of disappointment, anxiety, irritability, and finally despair. In this case, the efficiency of operations is significantly reduced.
In connection with frustration there are different:
1) frustrator - the reason causing frustration;
2) the situation is frustrating;
3) the reaction is frustrating.
Frustration is accompanied by a range of mostly negative emotions: anger, irritation, guilt, etc. The level of frustration depends on:
1) on the strength, intensity of the frustrator;
2) from the state of a functional person who finds himself in a frustrating situation;
3) from the stable forms of emotional response to life’s difficulties that developed during the formation of personality.
An important concept when studying frustration is frustration tolerance - resistance to frustrators, which is based on the ability to adequately assess a frustrating situation and foresee a way out of it.
FRUSTRATION
a mental state of disorganization of consciousness and activity that occurs when, due to some obstacles and counteractions, the motive remains unsatisfied or its satisfaction is inhibited (V.S. Merlin).
FRUSTRATION
lat. frustratio - deception, failure) is one of the forms of psychological stress that arises in a situation of disappointment and is manifested by a range of negative emotions: anger, irritation, guilt. F. cause objectively insurmountable (or subjectively perceived) difficulties.
FRUSTRATION
from lat. frustratio - deception, futile expectation) - a mental state caused by failure to satisfy a need or desire. F.'s condition is accompanied by various negative symptoms. experiences: disappointment, irritation, anxiety, despair, etc. F. arise in situations of conflict, when, for example, the satisfaction of a need encounters insurmountable or difficult to overcome obstacles. A high level of F. leads to disorganization of activities and a decrease in its effectiveness.
The emergence of F. is due not only to the objective situation, but also depends on the characteristics of the individual. F. in children occurs in the form of an experienced “feeling of collapse” when a purposeful action encounters an obstacle. The reason for F. may be failure to master the subject, an unexpected ban from an adult, etc. Frequent F. lead to the formation of negative. behavioral traits, aggressiveness, increased excitability, inferiority complex. See Inadequacy Affect, Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis.
Frustration
Frustration). A mental state caused by failure to satisfy a need or desire. In a situation of frustration, as shown by the experiments of Lewin and his colleagues, a person tends to regress to behavior characteristic of earlier stages of development. The living space itself becomes less differentiated.
Frustration
Frustration). Lack of satisfaction of a need or desire by a maternal figure. It also occurs when the achievement of personal goals is blocked.
Ego. In the theory of psychoanalysis - an aspect of personal structure; includes perception, thinking, learning and all other types of mental activity necessary for effective interaction with the social world.
Frustration
from lat. frustratio - deception, futile expectation) a mental state that arises as a result of a real or imagined impossibility of achieving a goal. F.'s condition is accompanied by various negative experiences: disappointment, irritation, anxiety, despair, etc.
FRUSTRATION
Specific usage in psychology is usually limited to two meanings: 1. Action - stopping, interfering or interrupting behavior - which is aimed at some goal. This is an operational definition; Behavior can mean almost anything, from an overt, physical movement to a covert, cognitive process. 2. An emotional state that is believed to result from an action in meaning 1. This emotional state is generally believed to have motivational properties that give rise to behavior designed to circumvent or overcome an obstacle.
Frustration
A negative emotional state, which is difficult for a person to experience, sometimes disorganizes his life and activities, turning into an intrapersonal conflict. Frustration occurs if the needs and desires of an individual cannot be satisfied due to seemingly insurmountable obstacles, restrictions and prohibitions.
Frustration
a mental state generated by the experience of an unattainable goal, frustration of plans, or disappointment. Characterized by negative experiences (anxiety, anger, etc.).
Frustration
a mental state caused by objectively insurmountable (or subjectively perceived) obstacles that arise on the way to achieving a goal. Manifests itself in the form of a range of emotions: anger, irritation, anxiety, guilt, etc.
Frustration
a mental state of disorganization of an individual’s consciousness and activity, caused by a collision with objectively insurmountable or subjectively perceived as such difficulties that impede the satisfaction of a need, the achievement of a goal or the completion of a task; the experience of failure, accompanied by disappointment, irritation, despair, and anxiety.
Frustration
from frustration) a forced refusal, a special state or internal mental conflict that arises when a person encounters a subjectively insurmountable obstacle to achieving conscious or unconscious goals (the term was introduced by Z. Freud).
Frustration
a necessary component of Gestalt psychotherapy, as well as a factor necessary for personality maturation (see maturity). According to Perls, the Gestalt therapist is a skilled frustrator. The client projects (see projection) onto the therapist the ability to do for him what he himself is not ready to do in his life, and tries to achieve this through manipulation (see manipulation). “Gestalt therapy proceeds from the assumption that the patient lacks the ability to rely on himself, and that the therapist symbolizes this incompleteness of the patient’s self” [Perls (17), p. 136]. Frustration manifests itself in the fact that the psychotherapist does not support the client’s manipulative behavior, but encourages the latter to mobilize his own resources to meet his needs. It is important to consider that frustration should not be excessive - the therapist must maintain a balance of frustration and support. Laura Perls formulated this principle this way: the therapist should provide as much support as is necessary, but it should be the least possible. Literature:
Frustration
from lat. frustratio - deception, frustration, destruction of plans), 1) a mental state, expressed in the characteristic features of experiences and behavior caused by objectively insurmountable (or subjectively understood) difficulties that arise on the way to achieving a goal or solving a problem; 2) a state of collapse and depression caused by the experience of failure. Historically, the problem of f. is associated with the works of S. Freud and his followers, who saw an unambiguous connection between f. and aggression. Within the framework of behaviorist theories, behavior was defined as a change or inhibition of an expected reaction under certain conditions, as an obstacle to activity. Currently, many authors use the concept of physical activity and psychological stress as synonyms; some reasonably consider F. as a particular form of psychological stress. It is also legitimate to consider F. in the context of interpersonal functioning, and from this point of view, the sphere of interpersonal conflicts and difficulties that can arise in a wide variety of life situations, including everyday ones, is of interest to researchers.
Frustration
from lat. frustratio - deception, frustration, destruction of plans] - the mental state of the individual, revealed in a unique complex of negative experiences (fear, anger, guilt, shame, etc.) and behavioral reactions, which is based on a subjective assessment as an irresistible and irremovable series obstacles in solving personally significant problems. Moreover, such barriers can only exist in the field of subjective perception of a particular person, but they can also be objectively presented in reality. In the logic of Freudianism and neo-Freudianism, the problems of frustration are directly related to the problems of aggression as a kind of “triggering” mechanism that almost inevitably leads the individual to manifestations of aggressive behavior. In the logic of the behaviorist approach, frustration is traditionally considered as a factor that, if not breaking the “stimulus-response” pattern, then at least significantly slowing down the activity “response” to the presented stimulus and destructuring the natural course of the response activity. The concept of “frustration” within the framework of modern psychological science is often considered as a type of stress, and sometimes as a reaction to a mild form of deprivation of an individual’s personally significant needs. Another thing is that the state of frustration in psychological terms can be regarded as only partially “covering” the stressful state in the interpretative sense and as a synonym for only partial and, most importantly, local and short-term deprivation. As for the socio-psychological perspective of considering frustration, it is clear that the frustration-tinged aspect is of greatest interest here interpersonal relationships and above all conflict interaction. It is significant that, by analogy with the structure interpersonal conflict in relation to frustration, it is customary to distinguish a frustrator (the stimulus that leads to a frustrated state of the individual), a frustration situation, a frustration reaction and frustration consequences. The degree of severity of the frustration experience and frustration consequences depends, first of all, on two psychologically valuable factors: the power of the frustrator and the degree of frustration security, the “perseverance” of the individual. In addition, a background but extremely significant factor here is such a variable as the functional state of the individual who finds himself in a frustrating situation. It should also be noted that recently resistance to frustration has been referred to, as a rule, as “frustration tolerance.” Moreover, in addition to the fact that individuals possessing this quality, capable of rationally analyzing the frustration situation that has arisen, adequately assessing the degree of its scale and realistically foreseeing its development, as a rule, are not prone to motivated risk and consciously avoid making those decisions that can be characterized as adventurous. All this together allows these individuals, even if they find themselves in an extreme situation associated with the onset of a state of personal frustration, to carry out optimal search ways out of the current circumstances, making maximum use of both your internal resources and external conditions.
The largest number of socio-psychological studies of frustration were in one way or another connected with the empirical testing of the “frustration-aggression” hypothesis of D. Dollard and N. Miller. In one of the earliest experiments of this kind, carried out in 1941 under the direction of K. Lewin, “children were shown a room where there were many toys, but were not allowed to enter it. They stood outside the door, looked at the toys and tested desire play with them, but could not get closer to them (a typical frustrating situation - V.I., M.K.). This continued for some time, after which the children were allowed to play with these toys. Other children were immediately allowed to play with toys, without a preliminary waiting period. Frustrated children threw toys all over the floor, threw them against walls, and generally exhibited extremely destructive behavior. Unfrustrated children showed significantly calmer and less destructive behavior."1 In this experiment, as in a number of others, visible confirmation was obtained of the assumption that the typical behavioral reaction to frustration is aggression. However, in other experiments, in particular by Yu. Bernstein and F. Worchel, during which “... the assistant experimenter disrupted the process of group problem solving because his hearing aid constantly failed (and not simply because he was inattentive) , frustration did not lead to either irritation or aggression”2.
Analyzing the results of these and his own experiments, L. Berkowitz came to the conclusion that the direct consequence of frustration is not aggression itself, but a special mental state, including a whole complex of negative emotions mentioned above (fear, anger, etc.). It is quite obvious that such negative experiences not only increase the individual’s potential for conflict and the likelihood of an aggressive reaction under the influence of provoking stimuli (L. Berkowitz, in particular, included the presence of a weapon in the field of vision of a frustrated person as a classic stimulus of this kind), but also in themselves represent quite a serious psychological one, and if frustration becomes widespread (as, for example, this was the case after the 1998 default in Russia), then a social problem.
In this regard, the steady interest of researchers in typical frustrating situations and factors characteristic of modern society. As shown by a number of sociological studies conducted at the turn of the 70s - 80s. last century in the United States, the most common source of mass frustration is family relationships. However, “...the most frequently cited cause of family conflict in the United States is household management. Families constantly argue about what and how to clean and wash; about the quality of food preparation; about who should take out the trash, mow the grass near the house and fix things. A third of all married couples say that they constantly have disagreements in matters related to family life. These are followed in terms of frequency of mention by conflicts regarding sex, public life, money and children.
Economic problems create a particularly high level of frustration in families. More family conflicts and domestic violence are reported in working-class families than in middle-class families, as well as in families with unemployed breadwinners and in families with many children. ... Work-related problems are also among the main sources of frustration and anger. One study of working women found that issues such as conflicts between managers' and workers' expectations, job dissatisfaction, and perceived undervaluation of one's skills were cited as the strongest predictors of levels of general hostility. These examples suggest that hostility comes from frustration.”3
It is quite obvious that almost all of the listed sources of mass frustration are characteristic of modern Russia. The family crisis and the increase in domestic violence over recent years have been the subject of constant attention from the media, government officials high level. Numerous targeted programs are aimed at solving these problems (support for young families, large families, affordable housing, etc.), unfortunately, have not yet brought any tangible positive results. The shamefully low economic standard of living for a European country remains unchanged for the majority of the population, despite huge government revenues, due to the unprecedentedly favorable global market conditions for gas and oil products. To this should be added sources of mass frustration specific to Russian reality, such as the lack of fully functioning social “elevators”, the critical level of social stratification of society, constantly changing rules of the game, and even outright arbitrariness on the part of the state and, above all, the so-called “ power structures.
Under these conditions, along with the obvious need for a radical revision of the entire domestic policy, critically important, from the point of view of not only modernization, but also the basic survival of society, is the problem of frustration tolerance of its members. It is largely due to the peculiarities of development and social learning in childhood. Thus, if during the period of formation of a child’s initiative (between the ages of 3 and 6 years) frustrating actions of adults (parents, educators, etc.) aimed at suppressing the child’s activity (in their essence, such actions are completely justified and, moreover, they are necessary if they are objectively aimed at ensuring the safety of the child, as well as the legitimate interests of his social environment: other children, relatives, etc.), acquire a global character, thereby transforming situational frustration into a sustainable deprivation of the child’s vital need for independent activity. Under such conditions, the child learns to respond to frustration either by aggression towards the immediate frustration (adults) in its infantile manifestations (most often in the form of hysterical rejection), or by looking for substitute objects (toys, pets, other children). From this perspective, a very common pattern of response to frustration in adults becomes completely clear, described by the anecdote “... about a husband who scolds his wife, who yells at her son, who kicks the dog who bites the postman; and all this because at work the husband received a scolding from the boss.”1
Note that within the framework of domestic traditions of both family education and classical preschool pedagogy, the focus of which was and remains not on how a real child develops in specific conditions, but on how an abstract child should develop in a certain ideal scheme, it is precisely a directive, completely dysfunctional approach to education from the point of view of the formation of frustration tolerance of the individual.
Another critical moment of development in the context of the issues under consideration is adolescence and youth. At this age, the role of frustrators of spontaneous personal activity, along with parental and substitute figures (teachers), increasingly begins to play social institutions. At the same time, the ideological attitudes dominant in society acquire special significance from this point of view. In this regard, the clearly observed tendency in modern Russian society towards the aggressive imposition of so-called “traditional values” in their most idiotic form, isolationism and sanctimonious desexualization pose a direct and obvious threat not only to the psychological well-being of individuals, but also to the very fundamental principles of the existence of Russia as an integral state education.
That this is indeed the case is evidenced, in particular, by the growth of xenophobia and interethnic tension, which has already resulted in bloody events in the Karelian city of Kondapoga and whole line other incidents that have not received as much media coverage. It should also be added that in its more local manifestations, low frustration tolerance of individual community members can completely paralyze the activities of the group. This is especially true for teams engaged in pronounced innovation activities, which by definition involves a high risk of failure and associated frustration.
A practical social psychologist, carrying out daily supervision of a specific group or organization, must have a clear understanding of the degree of individual predisposition of each member of the community to frustration effects and the level of his frustration tolerance, which is a necessary condition choosing one or another correctional and support program for psychological support of the life of the community.
Probably, few people know what frustration is, and yet, unfortunately, a large number of people have been in this situation. Frustratio is translated from Latin as “deception”, “vain expectations”, and in general condition Frustration is characterized by precisely these unpleasant experiences - the collapse of hopes, the impossibility of achieving a goal.
Definition of the concept
Phenomena such as stress, crisis, anxiety and frustration are usually studied in psychology in a complex manner, as negative mental states that have similar manifestations. The concepts of “frustration” and “stress” are especially close; there is even an opinion that frustration can be considered a form of stress. Frustration and anxiety can also cause approximately the same feelings.
What is included in the concept of frustration, what makes it stand out in this series? The definition of the phenomenon in psychological dictionaries is as follows: frustration is an emotional state that occurs if a person fails to achieve a goal or satisfy a need.
The state of frustration is accompanied by negative emotions such as anxiety, guilt, disappointment, anger and others. You can also find interpretations that consider frustration as an example of the very situation when desires do not coincide with possibilities. The terminological confusion is already noticeable.
Is every situation capable of frustration? When answering this question, firstly, you need to take into account the characteristics of a person’s character (how resistant he is to adversity, whether he can successfully deal with difficulties) and his general physical condition. And secondly, there are mandatory components of the situation itself. There are two such components: strong motivation to achieve a goal (satisfying a need) and a barrier that prevents this.
Consequently, frustrations can be grouped according to motives (needs) and barriers. For example, serious consequences can come from failure to satisfy primary needs (security, confidence in tomorrow), and dissatisfaction with secondary ones (self-realization, respect for others), as a rule, is less painful.
Ideological barriers are also interesting. This term was proposed by an American psychologist German origin Kurt Lewin in his study of the barriers by which adults control child behavior. This is a subtype of sociocultural barriers, which includes values that are shared by the child himself (“You’re a girl!”).
If we understand frustration as a special state, then we need to turn to: psychology was enriched with this term precisely thanks to the theory. As you know, Freud believed that the human psyche consists of three components: Id (unconscious drives), Ego (mediator between inner world personality and others) and Super-Ego ( moral standards, restraining the id).
The state of frustration, according to psychoanalytic theory, arises if a person renounces his drives generated by the Id, which are suppressed by the “censor” of the Super-Ego. The constant struggle between the Id and the Super-Ego leads to numerous frustrations.
Frustration Behavior
- The extrapunitive form is characterized by an outburst of anger and aggression on external objects, that is, the desire to blame circumstances or other people for failure.
- The opposite type is intropunitive, when a person blames himself for what happened.
- An impulsive response is characteristic of those who treat failures philosophically, considering them an event that is either not very significant or inevitable.
However, at the present stage, the signs of frustration include not only aggressive behavior. Summarizing existing approaches, we can identify several main reactions to the state of frustration.
- Already discussed aggressive behavior (of various directions).
- Regression is a “descent” to a more primitive level of behavior or response. Crying, for example, would be a form of emotional regression.
- Avoiding the situation. It can be expressed in the form of rationalization (an attempt to logically justify the uselessness of a goal) and substitution (an attempt to choose a new goal).
Personality type
There is also such a formulation as “frustrating personality type.” This type is highlighted in the new, experimental S-theory of personality, within the framework of which both frustrating and frustrated types exist.
The frustration type, on the contrary, does not like fuss and haste. Such people often delay making decisions and cannot complete the work they have started. What they have in common with the frustrating type is the fear of responsibility and the desire to know everything. personal experience, and not on someone else's. But a person of this type is usually peaceful, calm, and easily smoothes over sharp corners in communication and just as naturally and gently bypasses the prohibitions and rules that interfere with him. Author: Evgenia Bessonova