FROM PANIC TO POWER ---THE POSITIVE USE OF STRESS
by John J. Parrino. John Wiley & Sons, 1979
    FORWARD (pvii)

      This book is about the process of self-management. The science of behavior management, including the central idea of "feedback" is applied in this book to the intricate workings of the human response system.

      The quest for personal effectiveness can indeed be frustrating and confusing. The problem with the "pop-psychology" approaches to self-management is the conspicuous absence of a scientific method for understanding and managing human behavior.

      But now, the scientific methodology that has guided the natural and biological sciences to such great accomplishments of discovery is available to the managers of human behavior. A data-based, empirical approach to behavior management and personal effectiveness is essential to increase the motivation and performance of workers in organizational settings.

    PREFACE --- Assumptions (pix-x)

      This book rejects the idea of "mind-and-body" separatism and the relinquishing of total responsibility for one's well-being to society's caretakers.

      This book teaches an in-depth knowledge of the complex workings of your "Human Response System" and the empirically derrived principles of behavior that direct it to change in an adaptive manner. The book advocates an assertive personal strategy for coping with the problems of living!

      Knowledge of the results of one's own human responses and the use of the scientific data or verifiable feedback is critical to effective personal functioning.

      You can integrate and utilize the concepts of feedback, self-regulation, and self-control at a practical level. You can become acutely aware of the abundance of information that you receive from your human response system.

      You can become aware of the difference between healthy and unhealthy responses to stressful situations. You can use the ideas of "feedback" and "reinforcement" to maximize the positive results of your "habit change" efforts for self-regulation and the control of your critical human responses that actually determine your daily moods and feelings of well-being.

      You can strive towards a self-determined strategy for living happily, effectively, with a minimum amount of emotional disturbance. You can be responsible for monitoring, evaluating, and altering the functioning of your "human response system."

    INTRODUCTION --- Stress and you! (p1-5)

      1) The case of Paul --- a severe stress reaction (p6-18)

      2) Stress and feedback (p19-36)

      3) The human response system (p37-45)

      4) Emotions (p46-65)

      5) Human response system --- self-regulation --- physiology (p93-113)

      6) Self-regulation --- physiology (p93-113)

      7) Human response system --- thinking (p114-131)

        [1] The brain (p115-117)

        [2] Thinking and the environment --- the "silent dialogue" (p118-120)

        [3] The case of Dr. T (p121)

        [4] Disordered thinking (p122-128)

          (1) Albert Ellis' "Rational-Emotive Therapy" (122-124)

          (2) Aaron Beck's "faulty thinking patterns" (p124-125)

          (3) Further identification of disordered thinking habits (p125)

          (4) The "dangerous environment" hypothesis (p125-127)

          (5) Case study (p127-128)

        [5] Disordered thinking and the breakdown of feedback (p128-130)

          "Feedback" has been defined as the knowledge of results of "response functioning." It has been discussed as a critical variable in understanding the functioning of the physiological component of the Human Response System. (p128)

        [6] Summary (p130-131)

      8) Self-regulation --- thinking (p132-156)

        [1] Counteracting the "dangerous environment" hypothesis (p134-138)

        [2] Counteracting thought distractions and increasing concentration (p139-144)

        [3] Counteracting irrational thinking (p145-150)

        [4] Counteracting disordered thinking --- summary (p151-153)

        [5] Self-regulation of thinking and feedback (p154-156)

      9) Human response system --- behavior (p157-175)

        [1] The case of James --- a phobic behavior pattern (p159-162)

        [2] Principles of learning (p163-166)

        [3] Learned "maladaptive behavior patterns" --- avoidance and hyperresponsiveness (p167-168)

        [4] Creatures of habit (p169-179)

        [5] Other learned behaviors (p171-172)

      10) Self-regulation behavior (p176-203)

        [1] The case of Richard (p176-178)

        [2] The "dangerous environment" hypothesis revisited (p179)

        [3] Adaptive exposure or taking another look --- counteracting the "dangerous environment" hypothesis (p179-181)

        [4] Altering the "hyporesponsive behavior pattern" --- adaptive coping in a depressed individual (p182-185)

        [4] Altering the "hyperesponsive behavior pattern" --- adaptive coping in the "Type-A" (p186-190)

        [5] The "safe-environment" hypothesis --- risk-taking and assertiveness (p190-195)[4] Altering the "hyporesponsive behavior pattern" --- adaptive coping in a depressed individual (p182-185)

        [6] Adaptive exposure, risk-taking and assertiveness --- the case of James (p196-291)[4] Altering the "hyporesponsive behavior pattern" --- adaptive coping in a depressed individual (p182-185)

        [7] Summary --- feedback and behavior change (p202-212)

      11) Human response system --- feedback (p204-212)

        [1] Feedback and the human response system (p206-208)

        [2] Feedback and interpersonal relations (p209)

        [3] Feedback, learning, and human behavior (p209-210)

          Two types of "feedback" = (1) intrinsic and extrinsic knowledge of results (p210-211)
        [4] Personal feedback system (p211-212)

      12) Self-regulation --- "personal feedback (p213-237)

        [1] The case of Joseph (p213-221)

        [2] "Self-management project" (p222-228)

        [3] Uses of "self-monitoring" (p228-230)

        [4] The second-stage of "personal feedback" --- use of other
        feedback-facilitating techniques (p230-231)

        [5] A "personal feedback system" --- the final stage --- a new strategy for living happily, effectively and with a minimum of emotional upset (p231-2312)

        [6] The case of Dorian --- the profound effects of a "personal feedback system" (p232-237)

    APPENDIX I --- Results of "maladaptive coping" (p238-243)

      1) Thinking component of the human response system (p238-240)

        [1] Thought preoccupation, excessive worries, or obsessions (p238-240)

          (A) Irrational thoughts about physical ailments --- being preoccupied with thoughts about medical concerns: the hypochondriac (p238-239)

          (B) Thoughts of jealousy and possessiveness --- being preoccupied with thoughts of losing the objects of your relationships (p239)

          (C) Thoughts of suspiciousness --- being preoccupied with thoughts of being unliked can lead to avoidance of others, irritability and hostility (p239)

          (D) Other preoccupations --- obsessing and worrying about dying or being impotent or publicly humiliated or embarrassed (p239-240)

        [2] Phobic thoughts --- being preoccupied (extremely worried) with thoughts of avoiding a very discrete object or situation (such as a mouse or snake). The phobic person always thinks of the catastrophy that will occur if the feared object or situation is confronted. The maneuvers performed by phobics in their attempts to avoid the phobic situation and the anxiety experienced in anticipation of the confrontation are debilitating.

      2) Physiological component of the human response system (p240-242)

        [1] Psychosomatic problems (p240-242)

          (A) Muscle tension --- chronic muscle tension can lead to headaches, insomnia and other tension-related problems (p241)

          (B) Type A behavior pattern --- premature coronary artery disease (p241-242)

      3) Behavioral component of the human response system (p242-243)

        [1] Maladaptive habits --- overindulgence (p242)

        [2] Relationship problems --- living together, intimacy and work relations (p242)

          (A) Marital and living-together problems (p242-243)

          (B) Difficulty with intimacy and loneliness (p243)

          (C) Interpersonal relationships at work --- work is a major part of your life. Difficulties relating to people --- bosses, supervisors and colleagues --- in the workplace setting can be very discomforting and may affect work performance. Interpersonal pressures at work are equally as important as the pressures of work performance itself.

          All of the coping difficulties in friendship and love relationships are evident in the workplace. The difficulties often manifest themselves as a feeling of alienation from other employees, lack of motivation about the job, and an inability to get along with one's colleagues, employees or supervisors. (p243)

    APPENDIX II --- The muscular relaxation response (p244-248)

    APPENDIX III --- Behavior profile (p249-251)

    REFERENCES (p252-254)

    INDEX (p255-259)
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