CH 3 - stress as a psychobiological process Flashcards
what is stress
the state of mental, emotional and physiological tension, resulting from a stressor. It is a psychobiological response.
- Psych: fear, excitement, thoughts of inability to cope
- Bio: increased heart rate, increased muscle tension.
where does an internal stressor originate?
inside the individual
PSYCHOLOGICAL
- expectations
- feelings
- mindset
BIOLOGICAL:
- pain
- illness
- sleep deprivation
where does an external stressor originate?
outside that individual
ENVIRONMENTAL
- loud noises
- extreme temperatures
SOCIALCULTURAL
- daily hassles
- life events
- loss of significant relationships
- catastrophes
what is a type of stress that has a positive effect?
eustress
- energising
- motivation to make changes
what is a type of stress that negatively affects you?
distress
- loss of motivation
- sadness
the relationship between stressors and stress responses:
STRESSOR
- the stimulus that prompots a stress responses
–>
STRESS
- psychological and physiological state of tension
–>
STRESS RESPONSE
- the result of stress displayed in physiological or psychological characteristics
what is accute stress?
Occurs because of a sudden threat and only lasts for a short period of time
- Exams, starting a new job, deadlines, lifting a heavy weight in the gym - People typically 'bounce back' quickly - Adrenaline is produced
what is chronic stress?
Prolonged and constant feeling of stress
- Social isolation, loneliness, relationship issues, body image issues - Likely to be harmful in some way to health and wellbeing in a psychophysiological manner. - Stressor does not have to be physically present to have effects - Can be cumulative
what is the fight flight freeze (FFF) response?
- Involuntary, biological processes that we all automatically and rapidly experience irrespective of the type of stressor which we are exposed to.
- Increases our chances of survival in our environment
what is the freeze response?
immobolisation, minimising movement and vocal sounds to avoid detection
- Occurs when you feel immensely overpowered or trapped, where fight or flight is not deemed viable.
- Overwhelming threat
TONIC IMMOBILITY
Our body movements and vocalisations stop, heart slows, blood pressure drops, tense muscles collapse and become still. AKA tonic immobility
Orientating response: head turns to direction of threat, hypervigilance.
- prey remaining frozen, so that they are likely to avoid detection and conserve energy.
- in the mordern day, it isn’t beefcicial, as we may find ourselves freezing up during stressful interviews and dates.
what is the flight response?
dealing with the stressor directly
what is the fight response?
evading/ escaping the stressor
what bodily changes come from fight or flight reactions?
- increased heart rate and blood pressure
- adrenaline is release, if stress is maintains, it keeps releasing.
- redistribution of blood supply from the skin and intestines to the skeletal muscles
- increased breathing rate (to increase oxygen supply)
- increased glucose (sugar) secretion by the liver (for energy)
- dilation of the pupils (so the eyes can take in as much light as possible)
- suppression of functions that are not immediately essential in order to conserve energy (such as digestion and sexual drive) and which can be delayed without damage to the organism.
what happens when a threat is detected by the amygdala?
a signal is sent to the hypothalamus - which is linked to the endocrine/hormonal system.
1. Activates the sympathetic NS in less than 1/20th of a second, where the adrenal glands secrete adrenaline and non-adrenaline/norepinephrine into the blood stream.
2. The body is prepared for action, as various organs such as the heart, liver, lungs and kidney are boosted.
3. Hypothalamus stimulates pituitary gland for extra stress hormones, cortisol being the most abundant… Cortisol acts slower than adrenaline and non-adrenaline.
4. Once the treat passes, the parasympathetic system calms the bosy down, and restores normal functioning.
