CH 5 Stress, Coping, and Health (Terms)

Question 1

Stress

Answer 1

The tension, discomfort, or physical symptoms that arise when a situation called a stressor – a type of stimulus – strains our ability to cope effectively

Question 2

Stress as Stimuli (3)

Answer 2

Stimuli causes stress and negative experiences

Problem: not all people respond to stressors in the same way

• Complexity in responses: (not always negative) e.g., unity after a natural disaster

Question 3

Stress as Transaction (4)

Answer 3

Stress is subjective

Interaction between individual and environment

Primary and Secondary Appraisal

Problem-focused coping versus emotion-focused coping

Question 4

Primary Appraisal

Answer 4

Interpreting information; anticipating something as a threat

Question 5

Secondary Appraisal

Answer 5

Ability to cope: determines how we react in the stressful situation

Question 6

Stress as a Response

Answer 6

Physiological and psychological responses to stressful events or experiences

Question 7

Acute stressors

Answer 7

Happens quickly and fades once the situation or circumstances has passed

Question 8

Chronic Stressors

Answer 8

Persistent, slowly drains a person’s psychological resources and damages their brains and bodies

Question 9

Hassle

Answer 9

Minor annoyances or nuisances that strains our ability to cope

Question 10

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) (3)

Answer 10

Proposed by Hans Selye

Stress response pattern that consists of three stages: Alarm Reaction, Resistance, and Exhaustion

Problem: Response based model, focuses on physical reactions but overlooks the psychological experiences like thoughts and emotions.

Question 11

Alarm Reaction

Answer 11

Fight-or-Flight Response: physical and psychological reaction

Question 12

Resistance

Answer 12

Adapt to stressor; physiological responses are lessened (but continue to be higher than baseline)

Question 13

Exhaustion (3)

Answer 13

No longer able to adapt to stressor

Body becomes depleted: illness, disease, damage to body, death

Negative psychological effects: fatigue, depression, anxiety

Question 14

Eustress

Answer 14

Positive stress that motivates us

Question 15

Distress

Answer 15

Stress that affects us negatively

Question 16

HPA Axis (5)

Answer 16

• Chain reaction of hormonal response lead to to release of cortisol:

Hypothalamus

Pituitary Gland

Adrenal Glands

• HPA Axis functions to keep us alert and motivated to deal with or avoid danger (chronic levels can leave negative effects on the body)

Question 17

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (4)

Answer 17

• Mental health condition caused by highly stressful or frightening event
• Symptoms: vivid memories, images, emotions pertaining to traumatic experience

Question 18

Problem-focused coping

Answer 18

Actively address the stressor by trying to solve the issue at hand

Question 19

Emotion-focused coping

Answer 19

This involves regulating our emotions that come with stress, rather than trying to change the stressor (may involve avoidance coping)

Question 20

Control

Answer 20

Belief that a situation or stressor can be controlled

Question 21

Behavioural control

Answer 21

Control behaviours (e.g., coping strategies)

Question 22

Cognitive control

Answer 22

Controlling our thoughts; “cognitive restructuring”

Question 23

Informational control (2)

Answer 23

Seek out information to manage a stressful event

• Can lead to proactive coping

Question 24

Decisional control

Answer 24

Can choose among alternative courses of action

Question 25

Emotional control

Answer 25

Can choose to suppress and express emotions (and the manner of doing so

Question 26

Catharsis

Answer 26

Expressing anger or other intense negative emotions

Question 27

Hardiness

Answer 27

• Trait of resilient people

Set of attitudes marked by a sense of control over events, commitment to life and work, and courage and motivation to confront stressful circumstances

Question 28

Optimism

Answer 28

A tendency to view life’s events more positively

Question 29

Rumination

Answer 29

Excessive, repetitive thoughts that interfere with other forms of mental activity

Question 30

Health psychology (3)

Answer 30

Examines the relationship between psychology and physical health

• Interdisciplinary
• Utilizes the biopsychosocial model

Question 31

Immune System

Answer 31

Our body’s defence against bacteria, viruses, and other potentially illness-producing organisms and substances.

Question 32

Antibodies

Answer 32

Proteins that bind to foreign substances

Question 33

Psychoneuroimmunology

Answer 33

The study of the relationship between the immune system and the central nervous system