Suppose that an annoying co-worker is always trying to get you involved in office athletic activities - bowling teams, softball teams, corporate Olympics, even fantasy football leagues and March Madness betting pools. Research on the panic button effect suggests that you would be less troubled by this person if ____.
A) you thought about how much worse the situation could be
B) you thought about the fact that the coworker is just trying to be nice
C) you felt that you could simply tell the person to stop if you wanted to
D) you felt that, if you wanted to get involved in recreational athletics, this person would probably be a good way to start

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The panic button effect suggests that feeling in control of a situation can reduce stress and anxiety. Therefore, feeling that you have the ability to simply tell the coworker to stop involving you in athletic activities would make you less troubled by this person. Option A involves using the "downward comparison" technique, which may not work for everyone and may not be a lasting solution. Option B assumes positive intent on the part of the coworker, which may not be the case. Option D may not be feasible if you do not actually want to get involved in recreational athletics.

Suppose That an Annoying Co-Worker Is Always Trying to Get