Chapter 14 - Stress Flashcards
Define Stress
Any circumstances that threaten or are perceived to threaten one’s well-being + that thereby tax one’s coping abilities
What does stress threaten?
Physical Safety, long-range security, self-esteem, peace of mind, reputation, anything that an individual values
What is the nature of stress?
Cumulative
Define Appraisal + list 2 types
Stress lies in the eye of the beholder.
-Primary + Secondary
Define Primary Appraisal
An initial evaluation of whether an event is irrelevant to you, relevant but not threatening, stressful
Define Secondary Appraisal
Evaluation of your coping resources + options for dealing w/ stress.
Difference b/w Acute + Chronic Stressors
Acute; Threatening events that have a relatively short duration + clear endpoint
Chronic; Threatening events that have a relatively long duration + no readily apparent time limit
List the 4 major types of stress
Frustration, internal conflict, life changes, pressure
Define Frustration as a Major Type of Stress
Experienced when pursuit of some goal is thwarted
Define Internal Conflict as a Major Type of Stress + list 3 types
2+ incompatible motivations or behavioural impulses compete for expression
Define Approach-Aproach Conflict, Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict, Approach-Avoidance Conflict
Approach-Aproach; Choice b/w 2 attractive goals
Avoidance-Avoidance; Choice b/w 2 unattractive goals
Approach-Avoidance; Choice about whether to pursue a single goal that has both attractive + unattractive aspects
Define Life Changes as a Major Type of Stress
Any substantial alterations in one’s living circumstances that require readjustment (Social Readjustment Rating Scale)
Define Pressure as a Major Type of Stress
Expectations/demands that one behave in a certain way
Define Coping as a Response to Stress
Active efforts to master, reduce, or tolerate the demands created by stress (Either adaptive or maladaptive)
List 6 Behavioural Responses
Giving up, blaming oneself, striking out at others, indulging oneself, defensive coping, constructive coping
Define Giving Up as a Behavioural Response to Stress
Learned Helplessness; Passive behaviour produced by exposure to unavoidable aversive events.
-Individuals believe events are beyond their control
Define Blaming Oneself as a Behavioural Response to Stress
Tendency to become highly self-critical in stressful situations
Define Striking Out at Others as a Behavioural Response to Stress
Catharsis; Release of emotional tension
-Aggressive behaviour tends to fuel more anger + aggression
Define Defensive Coping as a Behavioural Response to Stress
Defence Mechanisms; Shield people from unpleasant emotions elicited by stress
Define Constructive Coping as a Behavioural Response to Stress
Relatively healthful efforts to deal w/ stressful events
What does Constructive Coping Require from an Individual?
- Confronting problems directly
- Realistic appraisals of stress + coping resources
- Learning to recognize + regulate disruptive emotional reactions to stress
List 4 General Emotional Response Categories to Stress
- Annoyance, anger, rage
- Apprehension, anxiety, fear
- Dejection, sadness, grief
- Positive Emotions
Describe the relationship b/w emotional response + performance & the hypothesis related to it
Inverted U Hypothesis
- The more complex the task, the lower the level of arousal + vice versa
Describe the Fight or Flight Response as a Physiological Response
Physiological response to threat in which the autonomic nervous system mobilizes the body for attacking or fleeing an enemy
