'Managing' Stress

"I believe that this book will come to be regarded as a historical landmark in the way in which we think about and deal with 'stress'. While the analysis presented here is perhaps preliminary and one can argue with some of the conclusions, this book makes a unique contribution by challenging the complacent orthodoxy which characterizes so much of the stress literature. This challenge is not just part of an academic debate, but also has profound implications for what organizations and individuals do about 'stress'. I feel therefore that this book will be of genuine value to practitioners and researchers." --The Occupational Psychologist "At long last, we have a book which examines stress from this perspective and which aims to "present a critical understanding of the experience of stress and distress in employment" and to "use this analysis to explore broader debates relating to discourse, agency and subjectivity". I believe that this book will come to be regarded as a landmark in the way in which we think about and deal with "stress"." --The Occupational Psychology "The book under review makes a concerted effort to explain the genesis and growth of interest in stress and also to provide direction in managing new sources of stress.... Lucidly presenting and critically reviewing several models of stress, the book suggests clearly that most contemporary theories emphasise individual efforts and coping strategies in dealing with stress. The authors highlight the role of collectivity, particularly in organisational settings, in managing stress.... Evaluating current approaches to stress management and providing alternatives, this book is an excellent addition to existing literature. It attempts to excite researchers and academics in the fields of organisational psychology to re-examine the existing theories and practices.... Undoubtedly, the book is a welcome addition to the shelves of students and academics in the field." --Management Review Providing a thought-provoking and timely alternative to the current approaches to stress at work, Managing Stress addresses stress within the wider debates about emotion, subjectivity, and power in organizations--as an emotional product of the social and political features of work and organizational life. The authors first analyze the historical developments of the dominant "stress discourse" in modern psychology and elsewhere. Alternative possibilities for understanding stress at work are then presented, drawing on a range of perspectives from labor process theory to the work of Foucault. Next, they outline a powerful critique of the typical stress management intervention: Employees increase their effectiveness by becoming "stress-fit" for dealing with their work pressures. Finally, the authors explore various ways of "rewriting" stress at work, including recognition that stressful work experiences can be collectively produced and reproduced. Managing Stress will be essential reading for all those interested in this important topic within occupational and organizational psychology, social work, organizational behavior, and, more generally, within management and organization studies.