chapter 15 stress Flashcards
What is the stress response?
A pattern of physiological, behavioral, emotional, and cognitive responses to real or imaginal stimuli that are perceived as blocking.
What are stressors?
Stressors can be categorized as:
* Catastrophes (e.g., tsunami, natural disaster)
* Life changes (e.g., death of a spouse)
* Hassles (e.g., small hassles that can become bigger problems)
What are intervening factors in the stress process?
Intervening factors include:
* Appraisal
* Perceived control
* Personality
* Social support
* Coping
Define General Adaptation Syndrome.
A three-phase model of stress response:
* Alarm phase
* Resistance phase
* Exhaustion phase
What occurs during the alarm phase of General Adaptation Syndrome?
Initial sympathetic reaction where resistance to stress decreases slightly.
What happens during the resistance phase of General Adaptation Syndrome?
High hormonal levels and sustained resistance with chemicals running through the body for 1-2 days.
What is the exhaustion phase in General Adaptation Syndrome?
Depletion of resources leading to illness.
What role does the amygdala play in stress response?
The amygdala detects a threat and activates the sympathetic nervous system.
What chemicals are released during a stress response?
Epinephrine (adrenaline) and glucocorticoids (cortisol).
How does cortisol affect the body?
Cortisol:
* Converts protein to glucose
* Makes fat available for energy
* Increases blood flow
What impact does stress have on the immune system?
Stress can suppress the immune system, making the person more vulnerable to illness.
True or False: Stress results in the release of glucocorticoids that suppress the action of white blood cells.
True
What are psychosomatic disorders?
Disorders with primarily physical symptoms but caused or maintained by psychological factors, such as hypertension and gastric ulcers.
What did Weiss (1977) find about control and stress in rats?
Rats with avoidable shock had fewer ulcers compared to those with unavoidable shock, indicating the importance of control.
What are common anxiety disorders?
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Phobic disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Define phobias.
Intense, irrational fears of specific objects or situations.
What is agoraphobia?
Fear of open spaces.
What is the prevalence of simple phobias in the population?
Relatively common; ⅓ of the population will show symptoms.
What are symptoms of PTSD?
- Severe anxiety
- Trauma relived in flashbacks
- Emotional numbing
- Avoidance of related stimuli
- Survivor’s guilt
What is the significance of coping style and social support in trauma recovery?
Coping style and social support are critical for effective recovery from traumatic events.
What is coping self-efficacy?
Belief that you have sufficient resources to deal with stressors.
What are some stress management techniques?
- Relaxation
- Exercise
- Talking to family and friends
- Avoiding self-medication
- Engaging in enjoyable activities
What is the role of optimism in stress management?
Optimism is associated with lower risk for anxiety and depression, improved immune functioning, and longer lifespan.
What is the impact of environmental stressors like noise?
Proximity to noise sources can increase the risk of stroke and coronary heart disease.
