Chapter 15 - Stress

Question 1

Stressors

Answer 1

events or pressures that place demands on a person or their well being

Question 2

Stress

Answer 2

the physical and psychological response to internal or external stressors

Question 3

Health Psychology

Answer 3

subfield of psychology that discusses how psychological things such as stress affect physical wellbeing (illness and health)

Question 4

Stressful events

Answer 4

life changes that can cause stress and illness

- they can be negative or positive

Question 5

chronic stressors

Answer 5

sources of stress that occur continuously or repeatedly

Question 6

perceived control

Answer 6

perception of stressor events (again, positive or negative) – can add to stress if lack of control

Question 7

fight or flight response ‘

Answer 7

emotional and physiological reaction that readies us for action

Question 8

HPA Definition

Answer 8

in charge of fight or flight response

Hypothalamus, Pituitary Gland, Adrenal Gland

Question 9

HPA axis pathway

Answer 9

starts at hypothalamus, sends messages to pituitary gland, pituitary gland releases ACTH and sends it to blood stream.
The ACTH activates adrenal gland (just above kidneys)
Adrenal glands release hormones such as catechnolamiens and cortisol
—> activates sympathetic nervous system and deactivates parasympathetic nervous system

Question 10

GAS stands for…

Answer 10

General Adaptation Syndrome

Question 11

What is GAS

Answer 11

a three stage physiological response that appears regardless of the stressors that is encountered

• alarm phase
• resistance phase
• exhaustian phase

Question 12

Alarm Phase
Resistance Phase
Exhaustion Phase
(all apart of GAS - the general adaptation syndrome)

Answer 12

Alarm Phase -mobilize resources 
Resistance phase (cope with stressor) --- resistance phase is the longest phase 
Exhaustion phase (reserves depleted)

Question 13

Key thinker of GAS (General Adaptation SYndrome)

Answer 13

Hans Selye

Question 14

highest resistance of stress during which phase of GAS?

Answer 14

Phase 2 - resistance cope with stressor

Question 15

Immune System

Answer 15

a complex response system that protects the body from bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances

Question 16

Lymphocytes

Answer 16

white blood cells that produce antibodies that fight infection

Question 17

Psychoneuroimmunology

Answer 17

is the study of how the immune system responds to psychological variables (Stressors)

Question 18

Glucocorticoids (hormones)

Answer 18

caused by stressors that flood the brain and wear down the immune system

Question 19

Type A behaviour pattern

Answer 19

the tendency toward easily aroused hostility, impatience, a sense of time urgency, and competitive achievement strivings

Question 20

Loss of appetite during sickness

Answer 20

conserve energy to be sick

Question 21

Primary Appraisal

Answer 21

the interpretation of a stimulus as stressful or not

Question 22

Secondary Appraisal

Answer 22

determining whether the stressor is something you can handle/ have control or not

Question 23

negative appraisal

Answer 23

registered as a threat

Question 24

positive appraisal

Answer 24

something that is seen as a challenge

Question 25

PTSD

Answer 25

post traumatic stress disorder - chronic or physical arousal, recurrent unwanted thoughts or images of trauma, avoidance of things that call the traumatic events to mind

Question 26

What organ may be smaller to PTSD sufferers?

Answer 26

hippocampus

Question 27

burnout

Answer 27

a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion created by long term involvement in an emotionally demanding situation and accompanied by lowered performance and motivation

Question 28

mind management techniques listed in lecture

Answer 28

repressive coping
rational coping
reframing
stress inoculation training

Question 29

Repressive coping

Answer 29

avoiding situations or thoughts that are reminders of a stressor and maintaining an artificially positive viewpoint

Question 30

rational coping

Answer 30

involves facing the stressor and working to overcome it; involves three steps:
acceptance, exposure, and understanding

Question 31

reframing

Answer 31

finding new or creative way to think about a stressor that reduces its threat

Question 32

stress inoculation training

Answer 32

a therapy that helps people to cope with stressful situations by developing positive ways to think about the situation

Question 33

EMG use in stress therapy or body management

Answer 33

show our bodies and how they respond to thoughts and bodily movements related to action whether we are aware of it or not

Question 34

relaxation therapy

Answer 34

a technique for reducing tension by consciously relaxing muscles of the body

Question 35

relaxation response

Answer 35

a condition of reduced muscle tension, cortical activity, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure

Question 36

bio feedback

Answer 36

using external monitoring device to obtain information about a bodily function and possibly gain control over that function
(EEG biofeedback)

Question 37

aerobic exercise

Answer 37

promote stress relief and psychological well being

Question 38

situation management

Answer 38

changing your life situation to reduce stress

Question 39

social support

Answer 39

aid gained through interacting with others

Question 40

sick role

Answer 40

a socially recognized set of rights and obligations linked with illness (exemptions and obligations)

Question 41

malingering

Answer 41

lazing around and not working despite that you’re not sick anymore

Question 42

hardy individuals

Answer 42

thick skinned individuals who tend to handle stress better than healthier people

Question 43

self regulation

Answer 43

the exercise of voluntary control over the self to bring the self into line with preferred standards; will power basically