Abnormal Psychology: Chapter 9 - Trauma and Stress Related Disorders Flashcards
An ongoing process that occurs when environment or social threats place demands on individuals.
stress
A three-stage physiological reaction to a stressor, consisting of alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.
*GAS
general adaptation syndrome
The immediate response to a stressor in which the individual’s autonomic nervous system is activated to “fight or to flee” from the stressor
fight-or-flight response
The second stage of the general adaptation syndrome, in which various coping mechanisms are used to defend against a stressor.
stage of resistance
The third stage of the general adaptation syndrome, in which organ systems break down
stage of exhaustion
The feedback loop that plays a critical role in the body’s response to stress.
In times of stress, the adrenal glands respond to messages from the hypothalamic-pituitary system by increasing their output of cortisol and adrenaline (epinephrine), hormones that help the body cope with stressors via “fight-or-flight” mechanisms.
HPA
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA)
A hormone that starts a chain of coordinated physiological and biochemical defenses against a stressor, and signals the pituitary gland to secrete adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)
CRH
corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
A hormone that, in response to a stressor, directs the adrenal glands to release adrenal corticosteroids.
adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)
A chemical messenger, also known as a stress hormone, that intensifies alarm and prepares the body to cope with a stressor.
adrenal corticosteroid
A chemical messenger, also known as an adrenal corticosteriod, that intensifies alarm and prepares the body to cope with a stressor.
stress hormone
An endogenous opioid that helps regulate cardiovasular activity, relieve pain, and facilitate psychological coping.
endorphin
A decrease in immune system effectiveness that sometimes follows sustained stress
immunosupression
A steroidal hormone the body uses to fight stress
glucocorticoid
Stressful or traumatic experiences, including abuse, neglect, and a range of household dysfunction, such as witnessing domestic violence or growing up with substance abuse, mental disorders, parental discord, or crime in the home.
adverse childhood experiences
A person’s efforts to modify, manage, or tolerate stressors.
coping
The evaluation of the significance of a stressor or threatening event.
primary appraisal
An attempt to reduce stress by directly changing the stressor itself
problem-focused coping
An attempt to reduce stress by thinking about a stressor in ways that make it less upsetting.
cognitive reappraisal
Attempts to reduce stress by changing a person’s emotional responses to a stressor.
emotion-focused coping
The feeling that you cared for by others or belong to a valued group.
social support
Maladaptive behavioral and psychological reactions to a stressor occurring within 3 months of the stressor.
adjustment disorder
An anxiety disorder in which a person experiences a pattern of intense, fear-related reactions after being exposed to a highly stressful event.
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
A mental disorder in which a person who has undergone a traumatic event experiences trauma-related symptoms similar to PTSD that begin within 1 month of the trauma and last less than 1 month.
acute stress disorder
A model that combines classical conditioning and operant conditioning to explain disorders such as PSTD and phobias.
two-factor conditioning
