The Biopsychosocial Model of Challenge and Threat: Reflections,Theoretical Ubiquity, and New Directions

2013 ◽  
pp. 239-252
Keyword(s):  
Biopsychosocial Model ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Challenge And Threat

Challenge and Threat States and Emotions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Sammy ◽  
David Harris ◽  
Samuel James Vine
Keyword(s):  
Biopsychosocial Model ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Sports Performance ◽  
Motivational States ◽  
Downstream Effects ◽  
Challenge And Threat ◽  
Response Profiles ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Situational Demands

Despite elite athletes refining their skills over years of practice, when it comes to pivotal sporting moments, performance may often hinge on the emotional consequences of motivational states. The biopsychosocial model (BPSM) of challenge and threat (Blascovich, 2013) proposes that, in motivated performance situations, a key determinant of emotions is the evaluation of situational demands and personal resources. The distinct response profiles arising from such evaluations are known as ‘challenge’ and ‘threat’ states, which differ in their emotional, cognitive and performance outcomes (Jones, Meijen, McCarthy, & Sheffield, 2009). Challenge states are associated with both pleasant and unpleasant emotions, while threat is usually marked by unpleasant emotions only. Further, when in a challenge state, emotions are considered facilitative to performance while the opposite occurs when threatened (Skinner & Brewer, 2002). In other words, challenge and threat states differ by types of emotions experienced (e.g., anxiety, excitement) and how these emotions are perceived (e.g., facilitative, debilitative). Recent work has provided mixed findings regarding the complex relationship between challenge and threat states and emotions (e.g., Meijen, Jones, Mccarthy, Sheffield, & Allen, 2013), but there is much scope to replicate, broaden and better understand this interaction, particularly in the context of sports performance. This chapter discusses the theory behind challenge and threat states and emotions, their interrelationships and downstream effects on performance, as well as implications for practice.

Heart Rate Variability Moderates Challenge and Threat Reactivity to Sexism Among Women in STEM

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 191-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bettina J. Casad ◽  
Zachary W. Petzel
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Biopsychosocial Model ◽  
Stress Reactivity ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Physiological Reactivity ◽  
Stem Majors ◽  
Challenge And Threat ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Resting Heart Rate Variability

Abstract. Using a biopsychosocial model of challenge and threat, we tested resting heart rate variability (HRV) as a moderator of physiological reactivity after experiencing sexism. Women science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors participated in a mock interview in which the male interviewer made a sexist or neutral comment. Resting HRV moderated physiological stress reactivity among women in the sexism condition, but not control, indicating lower resting HRV predicted greater physiological threat than challenge and higher resting HRV predicted greater physiological challenge than threat during the interview. These findings support the emotion regulation properties of HRV as applied to a biopsychosocial model of challenge and threat. Higher resting HRV may be adaptive for women experiencing sexism in male-dominated contexts like STEM.

The Robust Nature of the Biopsychosocial Model Challenge and Threat: A Reply to Wright and Kirby

2003 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 234-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jim Blascovich ◽  
Wendy Berry Mendes ◽  
Joe Tomaka ◽  
Kristen Salomon ◽  
Mark Seery
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Psychological Factors ◽  
Biopsychosocial Model ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Economic Perspective ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Generative Theory ◽  
Current State ◽  
Environmental Interactions ◽  
Challenge And Threat

This article responds to Wright and Kirby's (this issue) critique of our biopsychosocial (BPS) analysis of challenge and threat motivation. We counter their arguments by reviewing the current state of our theory as well as supporting data, then turn to their specific criticisms. We believe that Wright and Kirby failed to accurately represent the corpus of our work, including both our theoretical model and its supporting data. They critiqued our model from a contextual, rational-economic perspective that ignores the complexity and subjectivity of person-person and person-environmental interactions as well as nonconscious influences. Finally, they provided criticisms regarding possible underspecificity of antecedent components of our model that do not so much indicate theoretical flaws as provide important and interesting questions for future research. We conclude by affirming that our BPS model of challenge and threat is an evolving, generative theory directed toward understanding the complexity of personality and social psychological factors underlying challenge and threat states.

scholarly journals Intergroup status differences as challenge or threat: The role of legitimacy

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daan Scheepers
Keyword(s):  
Social Identity ◽  
Social Identity Theory ◽  
Biopsychosocial Model ◽  
High Status ◽  
Group Status ◽  
Identity Processes ◽  
Challenge And Threat ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Status Differences

Based on social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) we examined the motivational consequences of intergroup status differences as a function of the legitimacy of these differences. Motivational responses were conceptualized in terms of challenge and threat and operationalized by their cardiovascular markers, as described by the biopsychosocial model of challenge and threat (BPS-CT; Blascovich & Mendes, 2010). Participants ( N = 104) were categorized in minimal groups. Group status and status legitimacy were manipulated in the context of an intergroup competition. High status elicited relatively more challenge (less threat) when status differences were legitimate than when they were illegitimate. Low status elicited relatively less threat (more challenge) when status differences were illegitimate than when they were legitimate. Cardiovascular reactivity in line with challenge mediated performance during the competition. Results are discussed in terms of the relationship between social status and stress, and the BPS-CT as novel and useful motivational framework for studying social identity processes.

Sociocultural memory development research drives new directions in gadgetry science

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penny Van Bergen ◽  
John Sutton
Keyword(s):  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Autobiographical Memory ◽  
Developmental Psychology ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Memory Development ◽  
Development Research ◽  
Cultural Research ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Cross Cultural Research

Abstract Sociocultural developmental psychology can drive new directions in gadgetry science. We use autobiographical memory, a compound capacity incorporating episodic memory, as a case study. Autobiographical memory emerges late in development, supported by interactions with parents. Intervention research highlights the causal influence of these interactions, whereas cross-cultural research demonstrates culturally determined diversity. Different patterns of inheritance are discussed.

Much Ado About Fried Chicken: Abetting Aspiration or Respecting Autonomy?

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 1356-1362
Author(s):  
Laurence Tan Lean Chin ◽  
Yu Jun Lim ◽  
Wan Ling Choo
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Multidisciplinary Team ◽  
Biopsychosocial Model ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Clinical Decisions ◽  
Goals Of Care ◽  
Complex Needs ◽  
Aspiration Risk ◽  
Patient Centric

Purpose Palliative care is a philosophy of care that encompasses holistic, patient-centric care involving patients and their family members and loved ones. Palliative care patients often have complex needs. A common challenge in managing patients near their end of life is the complexity of navigating clinical decisions and finding achievable and realistic goals of care that are in line with the values and wishes of patients. This often results in differing opinions and conflicts within the multidisciplinary team. Conclusion This article describes a tool derived from the biopsychosocial model and the 4-quadrant ethical model. The authors describe the use of this tool in managing a patient who wishes to have fried chicken despite aspiration risk and how this tool was used to encourage discussions and reduce conflict and distress within the multidisciplinary team.

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