Ch 10 - Human Overload And Underload

Question 1

Stress

Answer 1

Can be good and bad

Is a reaction / non specific response of the body to the demands or threats placed on it. Produces physiological symptoms and psychological symptoms

It is cumulative and it is subjective

If you encounter the same stressful situation, you adapt; learn how to manage a specific task / demand

Question 2

Physiological Stress

Answer 2

External stressors that effects homeostasis; a strain or demand. Extreme situations can nullify homeostasis

External factors; temperature (hot/cold), noise, light, vibrations, space/comfort proximity

Internal; thirsty, hunger, fatigue, anxiety, ill

Symptoms; sweating, irritability, lack of concentration, dry mouth, increased HR, increased BP, increased respiratory rate (even breathing difficulties - Hyperventilation)

Question 3

Mental / Cognitive Stress (Psychological stress)

Answer 3

When the perceived demand of the task is greater than the perceived ability to cope with it. This has a large effect on the brains ability to interpret information.

Symptoms; try to do things more quickly, more errors, concentration reduced, mental block, fixated (don’t take anything else in), regression (revert back to wha you know even though it might not be applicable), confirmation bias (when your perception is wrong but you ignore contradictory information)

The sense of running out of time will increase levels of cognitive stress and may also lead to us making the riskier decision

Question 4

Non-Organisational (non-occupational/professional/domestic)

Answer 4

Causes; Loss of spouse, financial, grief

Question 5

Organisational (occupational / professional)

Answer 5

Causes; deadlines, rostering, lack of control, exams, promotions, different cultures, lack of hands on flying

Question 6

Imaginary Stress (Anxiety / apprehension)

Answer 6

Negative emotional stress caused by; worry or nervousness

Can have a big effect on the body; General adaption syndrome (fight/Flight) and even the GAS response

Question 7

Stressors

Answer 7

Internal or external causes of stress and can be anything

Can lead to arousal or activation, stimulating a person to attempt to cope with the stressor

Question 8

Arousal

Answer 8

Caused by stress

Can have physiological and Psychological symptoms

Homeostasis tries to keep everything in balance through the ANS (parasympathetic (slows everything) and sympathetic nervous systems (speeds everything up))

Sympathetic helps deal with stress (fight/flight)

Parasympathetic calms you down

Question 9

General Adaption Syndrome (GAS)

Answer 9

3 stages; alarm, resistance, exhaustion

Question 10

Alarm (sympathetic)

Answer 10

Up regulates everything; secretes a lot of adrenaline, HR increases, BR increases, pupils dilate, muscles tense up, glucose levels increase, decrease in stress resistance

Symptoms - improved and quicker decision making, increased alertness, increased concentration, better memory

Question 11

Resistance (Parasympathetic)

Answer 11

Calms the body down and helps to recover from the initial reaction

Still upregulated but less than before

Still dealing with stress

Physiological symptoms; glucose still pumped into system, cortisone (Pain killer) released to keep us going

If stress goes, then you come out of GAS

If stress still present, move to Exhaustion

Question 12

Exhaustion

Answer 12

When you have exhausted everything, glucose, cortisol etc

Brain now overrides body to keep it dealing with stress and eventually it will run out of energy

Body needs time to get rid of waste products

Prolonged exposure leads to; hypertension, stomach ulcers, CHD chance, inability to combat illness, eventually death

Question 13

The Three Reactions to GAS

Answer 13

Psychological; brain first realising the new threat/demand/crisis/fear

Psychosomatic; brain triggers the release of hormones into the blood; cortisone, glucose, adrenaline

Somatic; hormones trigger responses in organs which react depending on the hormones

Question 14

Inverted ‘U’ Hypothesis

Answer 14

Sub maximal zone - poor performance, under aroused; laid back, inactive, too relaxed

Optimal Zone - best performance, optimal arousal - good stress

Stress Zone - over aroused, decreasing performance - anxiety, panic, anger, fear, stress (poor performance)

Break Point - Mental block/snap. Subjective and comes from being over aroused, not good for performance

Question 15

Types of Underload and Overload

Answer 15

2 types of each;

• Quantitative -> the amount/how much
• Qualitative - What type / how severe

Question 16

To Reduce Overload

Answer 16

Use MCC skills 
Share workload
Prioritise 
CRM
Use every resource available to you; ATC, Cabin Crew, Doctors in the room in America, Use your company

Question 17

Underload

Answer 17

Caused by; boredom, lack of engagement, not motivated - all which can lead to complacency; unjustified self confidence and is very very dangerous

Symptoms; no instrument scans, impaired judgment, impaired awareness, decreased Situational Awareness

To reduce; scan, do checks, talk to co worker, keep engaged, use iPad, read ops manual…

Question 18

Acute Stress (short-term)

Answer 18

Suddenly/unpredictably a new stressor activates stress response
- Mobilises resources of the body to cope with stress

Question 19

Chronic Stress (long term)

Answer 19

If the stress is occurring daily for a long period of time, causes wear and tear of the body.

Causes; fatigue, scheduling, jet lag, death of a spouse

Physiological effects; Hypertension, diseases, immune system decreased, increased HR

Behaviour; Aggression, withdrawal, nervous, restless (all can occur quite quickly)
Appetite decreases, alcohol increases, smoking increases, hasty decision making (long term impacts)

Personality changes; Increased depression, more moody, moor tearful, more tired

Question 20

Coping Strategies

Answer 20

Short term thing, deal with at the time. - Subjective

1 - Direct action coping - remove stress / ourself - Positive

2 - Inhibition /cognitive coping - completely ignore/ complete denial - Negative. - rationalise it, start to make sense, analyse, break it down (mature method) talk it through, family, friends

3 - Symptom Directed coping - treating the symptoms but not the stressor - addictive conditions associated

Question 21

Managing Stress

Answer 21

Prevent/cure stress/ becoming stressed in the first place

Can only cope and manage stress if they are willing to - accept the problem

Good stress management = Prevent (keeping stress levels to a minimum) or Cure (finding ways to reduce existing levels)

Council link or CBT(cognitive behaviour counselling), relaxation techniques, meditation, yoga, film, exercise, religion or spirituality

Question 22

Stress in the Cockpit

Answer 22

3rd most stressful job

Communication is the 1st tool to disappear when stressed - monitor for this

Hearing disappears as well so they don’t listen

Dealing with stress: Briefing, MCC, CRM, communicate