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Been Down So Long it Looks Like Up to Me: How Burnout Takes its Toll and How Engagement Might be Fostered

Professor Stevan Hobfoll

Description

Semester:

  • Fall 2007

Speakers:

Professor Stevan Hobfoll, Kent State University

Lecture Time:

Fri, October 19, 2007 @ 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm

Lecture Location:

Room 4212, School of Education

Speaker Webpage(s):

http://www.personal.kent.edu/~shobfoll/

Introduced By:

No introduction available.

Abstract

Conservation of Resources (COR) theory has been suggested as a principle explanatory model for burnout. COR theory posits that resource loss is the driving mechanism in the stress process. Those who lose key material, psychosocial, and energy resources are at heightened risk for both further resource loss and for negative psychological consequences. In the case of organizational stress, resource loss is often (not always) slow and insidious and resource gains are often few and far between. This becomes normalized as “how things are,” but nevertheless continue to have a negative impact. Indeed, by becoming normalized, people and organizations may be less cognizant and prepared for the need to combat resource loss. Of further concern in organizations is loss contagion or crossover which occurs between coworkers and between workers and their families and further increases resource loss cycles. These predictions suggest, for example, that control is hardly as important as resource loss whether or not people have control. Alternatively, environments and individual and group actions that activate resources and foster resource acquisition on personal, social, and material levels can lead to and foster engagement. These issues will be discussed along with suggestions for future research and intervention.

Recording & Additional Notes

Introducer: J.P. Stevens, Ph.D. Student, Psychology