Chapter 14 Stress Flashcards
stress
response to a situation that threatens one’s sense of well being
stressor
something that triggers stress response
2 types of stressors
Acute- short term with definite endpoint
Chronic- long term, no definite endpoint
3 ways of experiencing stress
Frustrated: emotion when smtg prevents us from reaching a goal
Pressure: expectation/demand to act in a certain way
Conflict: discomfort bc 2 or more incompatible goals or impulses
Three basic types of conflict that can lead to stresss
approach-approach
avoidance-avoidance
approach-avoidance
approach-approach conflict
when someone must choose between 2 equally desirable options
avoidance-avoidance conflict
when someone must choose between 2 equally undesirable options
approach-avoidance
when any available choice has both desirable and undesirable qualities
daily hassles
small, everyday issues that accumulate to become a source of stress
life changes
altered circumstances requiring adjustment (marriage, death, illness, breakup)
social readjustment scale (SSRS)
assigns life change units to various events that can occur in one’s life
Traumatic events
unexpected disruptive events ex. natural disasters, witness violence
Post traumatic stress disorder
anxiety disorder caused by a major traumatic event, characterized by lingering and persistent, frightening thoughts or memories of the event along with anxiety and depression
Chronic negative situations
continued negative situation
living in poverty or dangerous place
chronic illness
pain and limitations bc illness
chronic job stress
first responders deal with life threatening medical problems
existential stress
climate change
tend and befriend response
females are more likely to have extensive and well maintained social networks than males. Females can lean on their friends when coping with stress
general adaptation syndrome
three-stage response to stress identified by the stages:
alarm, resistance, exhaustion
Alarm stage
Stage 1 of GAS
Body’s initial reaction to initial exposure to stressor
Fight or flight
Resistance is reduced
Physical arousal
Resistance stage
Stage 2 of GAS
Body attempts to stabilize if the stressor continues
Body is less able to have the energy to fight additional stressors
diseases of adaptation
Occurs during stage 2 (resistance stage) of GAS, body is less able to have the energy to combat additional stressors and becomes more vulnerable to health problems: asthma, high blood pressure, impaired immune function
Exhaustion stage
Stage 3 of GAS
Further exposure to stressor depletes energy and resistance
If it continues the organism can suffer organ damage or die
Emotional responses to stress
Bodily arousal
More negative emotions
Stress goes away = more positive
What determines what negative emotions accompany stress?
Depends on an individual’s personal style and the stress inducing situation
Cognitive responses to stress
Key feature of stress is how we appraise the situation and our ability to handle it
primary appraisal
first step of Lazarus description of how ppl experience stress
How big of a stressor is it
secondary appraisal
second step of Lazarus description of how ppl experience stress
one’s ability to deal with the stressor
4 individual responses to stress
autonomic reactivity, explanatory style, personality, social support
autonomic reactivity and stress
individual response
differences in intensity of autonomic nervous system (specifically sympathetic nervous system)
Ppl consistently display either high or low cardiovascular activity in response to stressor
explanatory style and stress (2 types)
individual response
Can make a diff in how we appraise and respond to stressors
Generally optimistic style
Generally pessimistic style
generally optimistic style
Believe that despite setbacks things will get better
generally pessimistic style
Believe that if things can go wrong they will, gloomy
optimistic brand of pessimism
believe things will go wrong but hope they won’t
personality and stress
individual response
sets the tone for how we react and appraise stressors
hardy/stress-resistant personality
welcomes challemnges, takes control, view stressors as growth opportunities
Type A personality
Interact w the world in a way that causes continual stress
Competitive, impatient, angry, hostile
Type B personality
Lower levels of stress
more relaxed, less aggressive, less hostile
Type C personality
vulnerable to stress
positive attitudes but unable to express or acknowledge negative feelings, tend to turn anger inward, take losses and relationship problems hard
Type D personality
D stands for distress, lots of health implications
worry, gloominess and social inhibition
social support and stress
More social support means less stress
Support may increase self-confidence in dealing with stressors
Presence of others reduces bodily arousal and negative emotions
coping
cognitive and behavioural strategies to manage stress
lashing out
typically occurs after a series of stressors and involves angry words and behaviours
cause psychological or physical damage
Not a constructive way of dealing with stress
self defence
defensive, avoidant, behaviours to protect oneself from stress
self-disclosure
sharing of emotions and experiences with others in person/online to help deal w stress
repressive coping style
consistently denying negative feelings and discomfort to try and push emotions out of awareness
self-indulgence
help people feel better short term but do not change the challenge at hand (no long term benefit)
ex alcohol, drugs, overeating
constructive strategies
distinguishes between two kinds of constructive strategies that are used depends partly on the nature of the problem
problem focused and emotion focused
problem focused coping
constructive strategy
efforts aimed on directly dealing with the stressor, like changing the stressor in some way
emotion focused coping
constructive strategy
changing feelings about the stressor
cognitive reappraisal
finding a way to interpret the negative aspects of an uncontrollable situation so that they are less upsetting
coronary heart disease
2nd leading cause of death
interaction of psychological factors (job stress) and physiological factors (high cholesterol, obesity, smoking)
Which personality type is more at risk for coronary heart disease? why?
Type A (aka coronary prone personality)
Because they have stress inducing behaviours
Which traits make personalities more prone to coronary heart disease?
Hostility bc more stress (A)
Gloominess and social inhibition (D)
social inhibition
tendency to avoid social interactions bc of fear of others disapproving of actions or feelings
psychoneuroimmunology
area of study focuses on links between stress, immune system and health
immune system
organs, tissues, cells, that destroy foreign invaders
lymphocytes
white blood cells, key in fighting bacterial and viral invaders
cortisol
lowers immune system functioning
cytokines
chronic cortisol drives up cytokine levels which leads to long term inflammation that can contribute to heart disease, stoke, illnesses
distress
stress caused by unpleasant situations or circumstances
eustress
optimal level of stress
purpose of social support in managing stress
helps shield us from negative effects of stress
inoculation
dealing with small levels of stress to improve functioning in increasingly stressful situations
post traumatic stress disorder
anxiety disorder in response to a traumatic event
Symptoms of PTSD
1) memories, dreams, nightmares of event
2) avoid activities or any reminders of the event
3) depression, anxiety guilt, fear
4) sleep problems, may feel detached from others
What causes PTSD?
combat, natural disasters, abuse, victimization
Who develops PTSD?
Any age
10% of canadians
2x common in women than men
Biological factors of PTSD
1) intense biochemical reactions that continue far beyond fight or flight
2) may have exaggerated sympathetic nervous system responses and blunted HPA axis responses to stress
3) may have a smaller hippocampus or the biochemical arousal may shrink hippocampus
Personality and PTSD
ppl with less resilient personalities are more likely to develop PTSD
Childhood experiences and PTSD
experiences may increase risk of developing PTSD
- poverty, abuse, catastrophe at a young age
Personality traits associated w decreased likelihood of developing PTSD
optimism, constructive coping, more resilient
social environment and PTSD
individuals w strong social support are less likely to experience PTSD
