Ch 15-Stress, Coping and Health

Question 1

stressors

Answer 1

specific events/chronic pressures that place demands on a person or threaten their well-being

Question 2

stress

Answer 2

the physical and psych response to internal or external stressor

Question 3

health psychology

Answer 3

subfield concerned w the ways psych factors influence causes and treatment of physical illness and maintenance of health

Question 4

chronic stressors

Answer 4

sources of stress that occur continuously/repeatedly

• effects can accumulate/be long-lasting
• linked to environments

Question 5

fight-or-flight response

Answer 5

emotional and physiological reaction to an emergency; increases readiness for action
-brought about by the HPA axis

Question 6

HPA axis

Answer 6

(hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal)
-H activates P (which is important in releasing hormones) which activates A (just above the kidneys) to release catecholamines (which increase the sympathetic nervous system (increase heart rate and breathing, primes muscles to react and act)) and cortisol (which makes more glucose available in the bloodstream to make more energy)

Question 7

general adaptation syndrome (GAS)

Answer 7

• 3 stage physiological response to stress that appears regardless of the stressor encountered
  1. alarm phase mobilizes resources
  2. resistance phase uses resources to combat and cope with stress
  3. exhaustion phase in which reserves are depleted and the immune system may begin to weaken

Question 8

immune system

Answer 8

complex response system that protects the body from bacteria, viruses, other foreign substances; can’t respond as well when high levels of stress are experienced

Question 9

lymphocytes

Answer 9

white blood cells that produce antibodies that fight infection

Question 10

psychoneuroimmunology

Answer 10

study of how the immune system responds to psychological variables (stressors)

Question 11

glucocorticoids

Answer 11

hormones that flood the brain and wear down the immune system’ caused by stressors

Question 12

Type A behaviour pattern

Answer 12

tendency toward easily aroused hostility, impatience, sense of time urgency, and competitive achievement
-indvs tend to have more cardiovascular health problems, possibly bc of their high bodily response

Question 13

Primary appraisal

Answer 13

determining whether is stimuli is or isn’t stressful

Question 14

secondary appraisal

Answer 14

determining whether you have control over or can handle the stressor, which affects how well you cope

Question 15

PTSD

Answer 15

disorder characterized by chronic physical arousal, recurrent unwanted thoughts/images of the trauma, avoidance of things that call the traumatic event to mind
-smaller hippocampus may predispose indv to PTSD

Question 16

burnout

Answer 16

state of phys, emo and mental exhaustion created by long-term involvement in an emotionally demanding sitch and accompanied by lower performance and motivation
-professionals w jobs in the help industry (teachers, social workers, doctors, police etc) are especially prone

Question 17

repressive coping

Answer 17

• mind management strategy

- avoiding situations/thoughts that are reminders of a stressor and maintaining an artificially positive viewpoint

Question 18

rational coping

Answer 18

• mind management strategy

- facing the stressor and working to overcome it through acceptance, exposure and understanding

Question 19

reframing

Answer 19

• a subtype of rational coping

- finding a new/creative way to think about a stressor that reduces its threat

Question 20

stress inoculation training (SIT)

Answer 20

therapy that helps people to cope with stressful situations by developing positive ways to think about coping

Question 21

relaxation therapy

Answer 21

• body management strategy

- technique for reducing tension by consciously relaxing muscles of the body

Question 22

relaxation response

Answer 22

• body management strategy
• condition of reduced muscle tension, cortical activity, heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure
• opposes the fight-or-flight response

Question 23

biofeedback

Answer 23

use of an external monitoring device to obtain info about a bodily function in real time, often through EEG, in order to possibly gain control over that function

Question 24

aerobic exercise

Answer 24

promotes stress relief and psych well-being

• may increase serotonin and endorphins
• keeps the body fit and healthy

Question 25

situation management

Answer 25

changing life situation to reduce stress

Question 26

social support

Answer 26

aid gained through interacting w others
-women more likely to seek support under stress; possibly bc of toxic masculinity, also possibly bc women have higher oxytocin levels (hormone that triggers need to be close to someone and to nurture)

Question 27

placebos

Answer 27

-trigger the release of endorphines and lower the brain activation in areas associated with pain

Question 28

optimism

Answer 28

seeing the sunny side of every situation

-healthier than pessimism

Question 29

hardy

Answer 29

someone who is thick skinned (committed, in control, accept challenges)
-tend to handle stress better and are healthier

Question 30

self-regulation

Answer 30

exercise of voluntary control over the self to bring the self into line with preferred standards; willpower

• delay of instant gratification for long term gains
• self control may be limited, may be an issue of strategy

Question 31

transtheoretical model of behaviour change

Answer 31

-precontemplation
-contemplation
-preparation
-action
-maintenance
-termination
(note than any given indv may progress through the stages in a non-linear way)