Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Personality Theories > Chapter 18 - Stress, Coping, Adjustment Period, and Health > Flashcards

Chapter 18 - Stress, Coping, Adjustment Period, and Health Flashcards

1
Q

Define stress

A

stress is a subjective feeling produced by events perceived as uncontrollable and threatening

  • the subjective reaction of a person to potential stressors
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the illness behavior model of personality-illness connection?

A

Illness in this model = measurable physiological process (higher heart rate, sweat, etc.)

Behavior in this model = action that people take when they think they have an illness (complaining to others about symptoms, taking a day off of work/school)

Specifies how personality might influence whether a person would seek medical attentio or report illness symptoms which can drastically effect health outcomes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the predisposition model of personality-illness connection?

A

states that personality and illness are both expressions of an underlying predisposition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the health behavior model of personality-illness connection?

A

Claims personality does not influence the stress-illness link, rather personality affects health indirectly through health-promoting or health-degrading behaviors

  • Argues that certain personality traits make people more or less susceptible to engaging in unhealthy behaviors/habits

aka → engaging in unprotected sex, eating greasy foods, not exercising

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the transaction model of personality-illness connection?

A

personality has three potential effects on developing illness

  1. Influence coping
  2. Influence how the person appraises (assesses value of) or interprets the event
  3. Influence the events themselves

when you are stuck in traffic on the way to work, the stress-inducing situation is interpretation is subjective
People with High-N traits will grow anxious easily → not amazing health outcomes for that individual

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the interaction model of personality-illness connection?

A

Suggests that objective events happen to people, but personality factors influence the impact of those events as they affect people’s ability to cope

  • In other words, certain situations expose us to exuberant amounts of stress than can negatively impact our health → personality traits make us less or more susceptible
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Define stressors

A

events that cause a stress reaction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are common characteristics of stressors?

A
  1. Extreme = produce a state of feeling overwhelmed
  2. Produce opposing tendencies, such as wanting some activity, but also not wanting it
  3. Uncontrollable, to some degree
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

fight-or-flight response is an example of a…

A

stress response

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What happens in a fight-or-flight response?

A

Increase of sympathetic nervous system
activity

  • person is startled, heartbeat and blood pressure increase, and palms and
    feet become sweaty
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What does GAS stand for?

A

General Adaption Syndrome

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

When does GAS kick in?

A

occurs when exposed to s stressor on a daily basis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the stages of GAS?

A
  1. Alarm Stage = fight or flight response → release of hormones that prepares the body for the challenge
  2. Resistance Stage = if stressor continues, use body’s resources at an above average rate despite panic (flight or flight) subsiding
  3. Exhaustion stage = if stressor is constant → lead to exhaustion
  • Susceptibility to illness and disease
  • Think of finals week…always get sick afterwards
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What percentage of college students reported moderate or severe psychological stress?

A

48% → and worsening in past couple of years

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the top 8 stressors for college students?

A
  1. Academics, Career related issues
  2. Death of family member or friend
  3. Family problems
  4. Intimate relationships
  5. Finances
  6. Health problem of family or partner
  7. Personal appearance
  8. Personal health or sleep issues
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Are major life events identified as both positive and negative stressors?

A

Yes! A stressful positive life event cold be moving into college, graduating from high school, starting a new job

  • create stress, but are infrequent
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

True of False: people who experienced most stress are more likely to have a serious illness over the next year

A

True

  • people under chronic stress deplete bodily resources and become vulnerable to infections
  • stress lowers the functioning of immune system, leading to lowered immunity to infection which results in illness
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are daily hassles?

A

the major sources of stress in most people’s lives, but are minor and appear every day

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

True of False: people with a lot of minor stress suffer more from psychological and physical symptoms

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What minor stressor is the most prevalent?

A

Weight - 52%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is the least prevalent minor stressor?

A

physical appearance - 36%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are other minor stressors people are concerned with?

A
  • health of a family member (48%)
  • rising prices of common goods (43%)
  • home maintenance (43%)
  • too many things, not enough time (43%)
23
Q

According to ___________ (1991) in order for stress to be evoked, two cognitive events must occur, including…

A

Lazarus

Primary appraisal = person perceives an event as a threat to his/her goals

Secondary appraisal = person concludes that s/he does not have resources to cope with demands of the threatening event

24
Q

What are three coping strategies?

A
  1. Attributional style
  2. Management of emotions
  3. Disclosure
25
Q

What question does attributional style of coping answer?

A

Where does the person typically place the blame when things go wrong?

26
Q

What are the three dimensions of attribution?

A
  1. External Vs Internal
    - They are to blame Vs I am to blame
  2. Unstable Vs Stable
    - I am sometimes bad at math Vs I am always bad at math – consistent narrative
  3. Specific Vs Global
    - I am failing at showing up for my friends Vs I am failing completely at life
27
Q

Who are people that make unstable, specific, external explanation for bad events?

A

optimists

  • optimism predicts good health and health-promoting behaviors
28
Q

What are two forms of optimism in the face of stress?

A

Dispositional optimism = expectation that good events will be plentiful in the future, and that bad events will be rare in the future

Optimistic bias = underestimate their risks

29
Q

How does one manage emotions in the face of stress?

A

emotional inhibition = controlling your anxiety or hiding the fact that you are disappointed

30
Q

How does Freud view emotional inhibition?

A

Negatively, as the suppression of emotion creates anxiety by pushing unacceptable desires or urges into the unconscious

When his approach is all about bringing thoughts from the unconscious to the conscious

31
Q

Do developmental theorists frown upon emotional inhibition?

A

No - in developmental psychology, children learn emotional inhibition by age 3 and it is considered an achievement

32
Q

How does disclosure help one cope?

A

sharing private aspect of oneself
- helps relieve self of stress and not doing so can cause more to generate

33
Q

What are expressive writing interventions?

A

A way to use disclosure as a coping mechanism for stress

34
Q

Who created expressive writing interventions?

A

Pennebaker - argues that not discussing traumatic, negative, or upsetting events can lead to further health problems

35
Q

What are the basic elements of a writing intervention?

A
  1. Prompt: Write about the most upsetting or traumatic experience in
    your life (Ideally something you have not talked about much)
  2. Don’t worry about grammar or spelling
  3. 3-4 consecutive days of writing
36
Q

What are some conditions writing interventions have examined?

A
  • after trauma
  • stressors
  • during life transitions
37
Q

What are some samples writing interventions have examined?

A
  • college students
  • medical settings
  • communities
38
Q

True or False: Just writing facts about trauma offers best results in an expressive writing exercise?

A

False, also need to write emotions for best results

Note, not all results are positive as people brood/search for a higher level of meaning

39
Q

What is the general hypothesis on the role positive emotions have in coping with stress?

A

Positive emotions and appraisals may lead to a lowered impact of stress on health

40
Q

What are three coping mechanisms capable of generating positive emotion during stress?

A
  1. Positive reappraisal
    - Person focuses on the good in what is happening
  2. Problem-focused coping
    - Uses thoughts and behaviors that manage or solve an underlying cause
    of stress
  3. Creating positive events
    - Creating a positive time-out from stress
41
Q

What does moderation mean in the context of personality and illness prevention?

A

personality is assumed to moderate/influence the relationship between stress and illness

42
Q

What does mediation mean in the context of personality and illness prevention?

A

specifies that the effect of one variable on another “goes through” a third variable

43
Q

True or False: personality traits are not categorical like blood type or sex

A

True

Important to keep in mind when considering research on Type A personality

44
Q

What are Type A subtraits?

A
  1. Competitive achievement motivation = work hard to achieve goals
  2. Time urgency = hate wasting time
  3. Hostility = frustration that ensues after not reaching a goal
45
Q

What is the lethal component of Type A personality?

A

hostility

46
Q

How are the arteries harmed by hostile Type A behavior?

A

Strong hostility → fight-or-flight response → increase in blood pressure → constraction of arteries + increase in heart rate → more blood pumped to heart → pumping blood through smaller arteries

This wears down arteries, causing microscopic tears and abrasions

Cholesterol and fat then become attached in combination with the release of stress hormones

Called arteriosclerosis

47
Q

Define arteriosclerosis.

A

hardening or blocking of the arteries
When blocked, blood flow slows → heart attack ensues

48
Q

What are the varieties of stress?

A
  • acute
  • episodic acute
  • traumatic (PTSD)
  • chronic
49
Q

Define acute stress.

A

sudden onset of demands and is experienced as tension headaches, emotional upsets, gastiorinetsial isses, pressure

50
Q

Define episodic acute stress

A

repeated episodes of acute stress (midterm/final seasons → expectation each semester)

51
Q

Define traumatic stress

A

massive instance of acute stress, effects can reverbetate for years or even a lifetime

52
Q

Define PTSD

A

syndrome that occurs in some persons after experiencing or witnessing life-threatening events (war, sexual assault/abuse, serious accidents, etc.)

53
Q

Define chronic stress

A

refers to stress that does not end, day in and day out

54
Q

True or False: stress surely has additive effects that add up overtime and influence health?

A

True

Personality Theories (8 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions