Chapter 12 Stress Flashcards
What Is Stress?
Stress is the tension, discomfort, or physical symptoms that arise when a stressor strains our ability to cope effectively.
1) Stress as a stimulus
Focus on identifying types of stressful events
2) Stress as a response
This approach assesses psychological and physical reactions to stress.
3) Stress as a transaction
This approach examines how people interpret and cope with stressful events.
Hassles
Minor annoyances that strain our ability to cope—can impact us as well.
Consists of three stages
- Alarm
- Resistance
- Exhaustion
Alarm reaction
Autonomic nervous system is activated.
Resistance
You adapt and find ways to cope with the stressor.
Exhaustion
In prolonged stressors, our resistance can break down.
Social Support
Social support encompasses interpersonal relations with people, groups, and the larger community.
Gaining Control
Gaining control of situations can also relieve stress.
Behavioral Control
The ability to reduce the impact of a stressful situation.
Informational Control
The ability to acquire information about a stressful event.
Cognitive Control
The ability to cognitively restructure negative thoughts that arise in response to stress-provoking events.
Emotional Control
The ability to regulate emotions.
Flexible Coping
Ability to adjust coping strategies as the situation demands is critical to contending with many stressful situations.
Ruminating
Focusing on negatives
Energy medicines
Based on the idea that disruptions in our body’s energy field can be mapped and treated
Placebos and CAM
When placed against placebos, CAM does not hold up.
Mind-body medicine
Biofeedback is feedback by a device that provides an almost-immediate output of a biological function, such as heart rate.
