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Daphne VCE Psychology 2015 > Chapter 13 : Stress and health > Flashcards

Chapter 13 : Stress and health Flashcards

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1
Q

Define stress.

A

Stress is a physiological and psychological state of arousal produced by internal or external stressors that are perceived by the individual as being challenging or exceeding their ability or resources to cope.

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2
Q

Define stressor.

A

Any person, object, situation or event that produces stress. It can be internal or external.

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3
Q

True or False.

Stress is a subjective experience.

A

True.

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4
Q

What is a stress response?

A

A stress response is a reaction that involves the physiological and psychological changes people experience when confronted by a stressor.

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5
Q

Name the physiological responses to stress.

A

The fight-flight response, the activation of the HPA axis, and allostasis.

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6
Q

What is the fight-flight response?

A

The fight-flight response is an involuntary reaction resulting in a state of physiological readiness to deal with sudden and immediate threat by either confronting it or running away to safety.

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7
Q

Name the two systems involved in the fight-flight response.

A

The sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system.

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8
Q

Provide examples of physiological changes that occur as a result of the fight-flight response.

A
  • Increased heart rate
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Increased respiration rate
  • Dilation of pupils
  • Increased glucose secretion
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9
Q

Name the system that restores functioning after the threat has passed.

A

The parasympathetic system.

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10
Q

State the process of what happens in the brain and body when a threat is perceived.

A

When a threat is perceived, the hypothalamus activates the sympathetic nervous system, which activates the adrenal medulla, which is the inner part of the adrenal glands. The stimulated adrenal glands then secrete the stress hormones, adrenaline and noradrenaline into the bloodstream. These hormones then circulate the bloodstream and activate various organs.

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11
Q

What does the HPA axis involve?

A

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis (HPA axis) involves the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland and the adrenal cortex.

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12
Q

State the process of the activation of the HPA axis.

A

The hypothalamus stimulates the nearby pituitary gland which secretes the hormone ACTH, which also stimulates the adrenal cortex, which is the outer layer of the adrenal gland. The adrenal gland secretes more stress hormones, such as cortisol which energizes the body through increasing blood sugar and metabolism.

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13
Q

What are the similarities and differences between the fight-flight response and the activation of the HPA axis?

A

Similarities…
Both responses are physiological and energize the body.
Differences…
The activation of the HPA axis takes longer and its effects also last longer than the fight-flight response.

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14
Q

What are the effects of prolonged activation of our stress response systems?

A

Can result in an impaired immune system functioning and thereby increases the vulnerability to diseases. Individuals may also experience dizziness, headaches, muscle tension, fatigue skin rashes, etc.

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15
Q

Distinguish between eustress and distress.

A

Eustress is a positive psychological response to a stressor, as indicated by the presence of positive psychological states such as feeling motivated, excited and alert. Distress is a negative psychological response to a stressor, as indicated by the presence of negative psychological states such as anger, anxiety and tension.

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16
Q

True or False.

Eustress is considered o be harmful to the body.

A

False.

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17
Q

Name the psychologists that proposed that stress could be positive or negative.

A

Hans Selye.

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18
Q

Provide an example of a situation that causes eustress.

A

The excitement of a first date.

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19
Q

Provide an example of a situation that causes distress.

A

Being told that your parents are getting a divorce.

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20
Q

True or False.

Eustress is typically short-term, whereas distress can be short or long-term.

A

True.

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21
Q

What are the effects of prolonged distress?

A

Prolonged distress can have serious consequences on an individual’s physical and mental health.

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22
Q

True or False.

Selye claimed that the human body does not recognize the distinction between eustress and distress.

A

True.

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23
Q

True or False.

All stressors produce a non-specific stress response. The body undergoes virtually the same physiological changes.

A

True.

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24
Q

True or False.

Whether a situation is perceived as being eustress or distress depends on the individual themselves.

A

True.
Some individuals can perceive bungee jumping as being exciting, which results in eustress. While others can perceive it as being dangerous and scary, which results in distress.

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25
Q

Name the psychological responses to stress.

A
  • Emotional changes
    When exposed to a stressor, individuals may experience changes in their emotions, such as feeling anxious, tension, depressed and anger. They may also feel a sense of hopelessness.
  • Cognitive changes
    Cognitive changes associated with being stressed involve distorted perceptions of their circumstances and environment. Individuals may also have difficulty concentrating, making decisions, thinking clearly and problem solving.
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26
Q

True or False.

Individuals have no control over physiological changes, but can exert some control over psychological changes.

A

True.

27
Q

Name the changes in behavior resulting from psychological changes from stress.

A

Strained facial expressions, hand tremors, a shaky voice and muscle spasms. More serious changes include changes in appetite, sleeping patterns, etc.

28
Q

Name some of the psychological determinants of how an individual responses to stress.

A

Prior experience with stressors and stress responses, attitude, personality characteristic, general outlook of life, coping skills, motivation and level of stress esteem.

29
Q

Who developed the transactional model of stress and coping?

A

Lazarus and Folkman.

30
Q

What is the transactional model of stress and coping?

A

The Lazarus and Folkman transactional model of stress and coping proposes that stress involves an encounter between an individual and their environment, and that the stress response depends upon the individual’s interpretation of the stressor and their ability to cope with it.

31
Q

Name the two key psychological factors that the transactional model of stress and coping focuses on.

A
  • The meaning of the event to the individual

- The individual’s judgement of their ability to cope with it

32
Q

True or False.
The transactional model of stress explains individual differences in the stress response from a psychological perspective.

A

True.

33
Q

True or False.
Lazarus and Folkman proposed that stress is the result of the individual influencing the environment, and the environment influencing the individual.

A

True.

34
Q

What are the two types of appraisal, according to Lazarus and Folkman?

A
  • Primary appraisal, in which the individual decides if the situation is considered to be threatening or positive, or completely irrelevant.
  • Secondary appraisal, in which the individual evaluates their coping options and resources available to deal with the situation.
35
Q

Define coping, according to Lazarus and Folkman.

A

Coping the is the process of constantly changing cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage specific internal and/or external stressors that are appraised as exceeding the resources of the person.

36
Q

Name the two types of coping strategies.

A

Problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping.

37
Q

What is problem-focused coping?

A

Involves efforts to manage or change the source of the stress, that is the stressor.

38
Q

What is emotion-focused coping?

A

Involves efforts to deal with our emotional response to stress.

39
Q

Which coping strategy is often used when we have little or no control over the situation?

A

Emotion-focused coping.

40
Q

Name the key strengths of the transactional model of stress and coping.

A
  • It used human subjects in developing the model.
  • It used a psychological approach to stress and focuses on how people deal with psychological stressors.
  • Takes both mental processes and emotions into account when examining how an individual interprets a situation as stressful or not.
41
Q

Name the key weaknesses of the transactional model of stress and coping.

A
  • Less emphasis on physiological elements of the stress response.
  • Does not take account social, cultural and environmental factors.
42
Q

Define social readjustment.

A

Social readjustment refers to the amount of change in lifestyle a person is forced to make following a specific life event, such as the death of a loved one.

43
Q

Name social factors that influence stress.

A

Social readjustment, social isolation.

44
Q

Name cultural factors that influence stress.

A

Acculturation, racism.

45
Q

Name environmental factors that influence stress.

A

Poverty, crowding, catastrophe.

46
Q

Define allostasis.

A

Allostasis refers to the body’s ability to maintain a stable physiological environment by adjusting and changing to meet internal and external demands.

47
Q

Define homeostasis.

A

Homeostasis refers to the body’s ability to maintain a stable physiological environment by keeping certain bodily conditions constant.

48
Q

Distinguish between allostasis and homeostasis.

A

Allostasis achieves stability by changing, whereas homeostasis achieves stability by staying the same.

49
Q

True or False.

Changes associated with homeostasis occur within a relatively narrow range, with upper and lower limits.

A

True.

50
Q

Name the allostatic systems.

A

The HPA axis, the autonomic nervous system, the immune, cardiovascular and metabolic system.

51
Q

True or False.

Large deviations in the homeostatic systems can lead to death.

A

True.

52
Q

Define allostatic load.

A

Allostatic load refers to the cumulative negative effects of the wear and tear that the body and brain experience due to repeated cycles of allostatic changes and/or inefficient turning on and off of these responses.

53
Q

Define allostatic overload.

A

Allostatic overload is considered to represent the point at which a person actually develops a serious health problem, such as a physical disease or mental disorder.

54
Q

Explain how the different factors interact in terms of allostasis.

A

An individual may interpret whether the situation is considered to be stressful or not (psychological), which determines whether or not the HPA axis or other systems are activated (biological). Appraisal also depends upon the individual’s current circumstances (social).

55
Q

What is biofeedback?

A

Biofeedback is a technique that enables individuals to receive information about the state of a bodily process.

56
Q

What is a common criticism of biofeedback?

A

Its effects do not always last after the individual leaves the setting in which they learned and used the biofeedback, as they do not have access to the expensive feedback device.

57
Q

Name the strategies for coping with stress.

A

Biofeedback ,meditation and relaxation, physical exercise and social support.

58
Q

Define meditation.

A

Meditation is a specific technique that involves altering one’s state of consciousness by focusing attention or thoughts on a single internal stimulus.

59
Q

Define relaxation.

A

Relaxation is the process of reducing psychological and or physiological arousal.

60
Q

What are the effects of meditation and relaxation on stress?

A

Feeling calm, a low level or absence of anxiety, and responses associated with a low level of overall physiological arousal.

61
Q

What is physical exercise?

A

Physical exercise is physical activity that is usually planned and performed to improve or maintain your physical condition.

62
Q

What are the benefits of physical exercise on managing stress?

A
  • Releases beta-endorphins which relieve pain and increase a sense of wellbeing.
  • Reduces muscle tension.
  • Diverts an individual’s attention away from the stress.
63
Q

Name the four types of social support.

A

Appraisal support, tangible assistance, information support and emotional support.

Daphne VCE Psychology 2015 (13 decks)

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