Ch 12 - Stress Flashcards
Emotion
State of arousal involving facial and bodily changes, brain activation, cognitive appraisals, subjective feelings, and tendencies toward action
3 Functions of emotion
- provides rapid response to environmental stimuli
- communication of intent to others
- Influences social behaviours and responses
2 routes of emotions in the brain
Fast route: skips visual cortex and goes straight to amygdala for instant emotional reaction
Slow route: sensory input is routed to cortex for analysis and then transmission to the amygdala
Amygdala
Brain structure involved in arousal and regulation of emotion and initial emotional response to sensory information
- becomes activated during perception of arousing or aversive/fear-inducing stimuli (loud noises, noxious odors, bad taste, etc.)
Prefrontal cortex
most forward part of the frontal lobes of the brain
- Associated with emotional experience and emotional regulation; modifying and controlling what we feel
- Left prefrontal cortex: the most forward part of the frontal lobes of the brain
- Right prefrontal cortex: more tuned to unpleasant emotions
Autonomic Nervous System
A control system that acts largely unconsciously and regulates bodily functions such as the heart rate, digestion, etc.
2 Theories of emotion
James-Lange Theory: emotions caused by bodily sensations, and arousal leads to emotion (heart races leading to fear)
- Issue: physical experience of arousal is not uniquely distinct for each emotion
Cannon-Bard Theory: Emotions and arousal co-occur, and stimulus activates bodily arousal, and the stimulation activates the cortex
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Reward Smiles -
Affiliative Smiles -
Dominance Smiles -
> displayed to communicate positive experiences or intentions
create and maintain social bonds and signal appeasement
signal status
Body language
nonverbal signals of movement, posture, gesture, and gaze
Primary emotions
emotions considered universal and biologically based
- Ex. fear, anger, sadness, joy, disgust, and contempt
Secondary emotions
emotions that developed with cognitive maturity and vary across individuals/cultures
- some ppl don’t experience them
Display rules
Social and cultural rules regulating when, how, and where a person may express (or suppress) emotions
Emotional dialects
Variations across cultures in how common emotions are expressed
Health Psychology
Brand of psych concerned with promotion of health and prevention of illness
Placebo effect
perception that one has received an intervention improves one’s symptoms
Nocebo effect
an intervention that is expected to cause harm or side effects creates those effects
Stress
psychological and physiological reaction that occurs when perceived demands exceed existing resources to meet those demands
Stressors
an event, item, or experience that causes a stress response
- stress response helps living things deal w stressors
Short term stress pattern
- Fight-or-flight
- physiological changes occuring in response to psychological or physical threat
Long term stress pattern
- General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
- Theory of stress responses involving stages of alarm, resistance, and exhaustion
General Adaptation Syndrome
Alarm - recognition of threat
- increase in blood pressure, muscle tension, heart rate, adrenaline
- fight or flight
Resistance - body attempts to cope with stressor
- uses physical/mental resources to respond
Exhaustion - stressful experience depletes resources and physiological stress response declines
Acute stress
- Enhances immunity (except allergies)
- Increase number of lymphocytes and macrophages
- Dependent on adrenal secretion (lasts 2-5 days)
Chronic stress
- Suppresses immunity
- Reduces number of lymphocytes and macrophages
- Increases severity of common illnesses
Common sources of stress:
- Frustration: blocked goal
- Pressure: expectations to behave certain way
- Change: having to adapt
Common stressors
- Financial: lack money, unpaid bills
- Work/school: exams, project deadlines, traffic
- Physiological: lack of sleep, unhealthy eating, smoking/drinking
- Psychological: personal relationships, conflict, bullying
- Societal: racism, poverty, powerlessness
Personalities and stress
Type A:
- are organized but impatient
- worry about time
- ambitious
- motivated
- competitive but easily angered
Type B:
- are laid back
- patient
- easygoing
- relaxed
Microstressors
Cumulative effects of stress
Locus of control
A general expectation about whether the results of your actions are under your own control (internal locus) or beyond your control (external locus)
Transactional Model
Model by Richard Lazarus, stating that the amount of stress people experience is based on 2 factors:
- Assessment of stressors (primary appraisal)
- Assessment of resources they have to cope (secondary appraisal)
Problem-focused coping
Attempting to reduce stress directly by changing stressor or way we interact with it
Emotion-focused coping
Trying to find ways of reducing effects of negative emotions
Coping strategies
- deal w microstressors in life that you can control
- Intentionally participate in activities taht put you in positive mood
- Add optimistic outlook
- Relaxation
- Religious involvement
- Forgiveness
- Confession
- Spend time outdoors
- Exercise
Positive psychology
Examines how positive emotions and personality traits enhance well-being and health
Optimism
General expectation that things will go well despite setbacks
Pessimism
Tendency to have negative perception of life and expect negative outcomes
Why does higher self-esteem result in fewer health problems?
Because of lower social stress and more friends
