Ch. 11: Stress Flashcards
The biological mechanisms that underlie a stress response
A stressor activates two systems: a fast acting sympathetic nervous system response and a slower-acting response resulting from a complex system of biological events known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis
Stress response sequence of events
Stressful event is perceived in the brain, which sends various signals to various brain areas and to the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus first activates the sympathetic nervous system, which activates the adrenal glands –located at the top of the kidneys– to release epinephrine and norepinephrine, which increases heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration. Meanwhile, in the HPA axis, the hypothalamus sends a signal to the pituitary gland that sends a hormone into the blood stream that eventually reaches the adrenal glands. The adrenals then secrete cortisol.
Cortisol
Hormone secreted during HPA axis stress response by adrenal glands. It travels through the bloodstream, especially at the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala. In turn, cortisol increases the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. May be linked with the development of heart disease through chronic/high stress.
Effects of excessive stress
Because stress activates hormones, which stay in the blood stream longer than the length of the stressful events, chronic stress begins to damage organs. Also, excessive stress disrupts working memory. Chronic stress has also been associated with memory impairments; excessive cortisol from the HPA stress response damages the hippocampus, which is important for storing long term memories.
Daily hassles
Small, day-to-day irritations and annoyances that are stressful, and their combined effects can be comparable to the effects of major life changes.
Eustress
Stress from positive events
Distress
Stress from negative events
General Adaptation Syndrome 3 stages
alarm, resistance, and exhaustion
Fight or flight response
the physical reaction includes increased heart rate, redistribution of the blood supply away from skin and digestive organs and to muscles and brain, deepening of respiration, dilation of pupils, inhibition of gastric secretions, and an increase in glucose released from the liver.
Tend and befriend response
Females respond to stress by protecting and caring for their offspring, as well as by forming alliances with social groups to reduce risks to individuals, including themselves. Stressed women are more attentive to children than stressed men are.
Oxytocin
a hormone important for mothers bonding with newborns, is produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland. Research shows that oxytocin is high for women, but not men, who are socially distressed. It exists naturally in both women and men, but women’s stress response seems to rely on it more. Also, influences someone to be trustful
T/F: A less active immune system can lead to stomach ulcers
True
T/F: short term stress damages the immune system
False; short term stress helps the immune system, while chronic stress damages it.
lymphocytes
the three types of white blood cells in the immune system
B cells
Produce antibodies, which are protein agents that attach themselves to foreign agents and mark them for destruction. Some type of B cells are able to remember specific invaders, allowing you to build up immunities
T cells
Involved with attacking the intruders directly and also with increasing the strength of the immune system’s response. They are the cells affected by HIV.
natural killer cells
Especially potent for killing viruses and also help attack tumors.
T/F: the body heals slower when under stress
True. This is partly due to decreased lymphocyte production, caused by long term stress.
T/F: Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the industrialized world
True
T/F: Passive behavior increases the chances of developing Coronary heart disease
False, it is aggressive “type A” behavior that increases these chances, meanwhile passive, “type B” behavior lowers chances. Specifically, it is aggressiveness as a “type A” character trait that is very highly correlated with the development of heart disease.
Primary appraisals
What people do to determine if an even is worth getting stressed out over.
Secondary appraisals
What people do to evaluate response options and determine coping behaviors.
Anticipatory coping
coping that happens before a stressful event
Emotion focused coping
tries to suppress stress/ avoid it, or engages in behaviors such as eating or drinking. Usually, strategies that are emotion-focused are only effective in the short run.
Problem focused coping
Focusing on resolving problem that is causing stress. These are only useful when it is in fact possible to resolve the problem
Positive Reappraisal
coping by focusing on the silver lining of a situation
Downward comparison
coping by comparing oneself to those worse off
Creation of positive events
coping by giving positive meaning to ordinary events.
Stress resistant people
People capable to adapting to stressful events by viewing them constructively. As a personality trait, called “hardiness”
Hardiness’s 3 components
commitment, challenge, and control. Committed to triumphing over obstacles. Viewing obstacles as challenges. And lastly, an overall viewpoint that they are in control of their own destinies.
Broaden and build theory
positive emotions cause people to consider novel solutions to their problems. Thus, resilient people tend to draw on their positive emotions when dealing with stress.
Happiness’s 3 components
1) positive emotion and pleasure, 2) engagement in life, 3) a meaningful life
the buffering hypothesis
the idea that when people such as friends lend their emotional support, they help you cope with stressful events
T/F: trust and more friends are correlated with longer life
True
