Chapter 3 Flashcards
Stress
A physiological and
psychological response to internal or external stressors that are perceived to challenge a person’s ability to cope
Stressor
Stimuli that cause or produce stress and challenge our ability
to cope
Internal Stressor
a stimulus from within
a person’s body that
prompts the stress
response
External stressor
a stimulus from outside
of a person’s body that
prompts the stress
response
Distress
Negative psychological response to a stressor. Feeling angry, anxious, nervous. can be short or long term and impeded the body’s ability to cope with stressor
Eustress
Positive psychological response to a stressor. feeling enthusiastic, motivated, excited. Typically short term
Acute stress
a form of stress characterised by
intense psychological and
physiological symptoms
that are brief in duration. Results in release of adrenaline (due to FFF activating)
Chronic Stress
a form of stress that endures for several months or longer
Fight-Flight-Freeze response
an involuntary and
automatic response to
a threat that takes the
form of either escaping it, confronting it, or freezing in the face of it. Releases adrenaline
Cortisol
a hormone released in times of stress to aid the body in igniting and maintaining heightened arousal. Chronic stress results in release of cortisol
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
GAS is a 3 stage physiological response to stress that follows a predictable pattern regardless of the source of stress or type of stress (non-specific)
Alarm Reaction
the first stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome involving the initial decrease and subsequent increase in bodily arousal in response to an immediate stressor
Shock Substage
first substage of alarm reaction stage, where the organism becomes aware of the stressor. Ability to deal with stressor falls below level of resistance, and involves decreased bodily arousal for a brief period. freeze response occurs
Countershock Substage
second substage of alarm reaction stage, where arousal levels increase (due to release of adrenaline and cortisol) and resistance to stressor increases above normal. sympathetic nervous system responses occur that mobilise the body to respond to the stressor
Resistance Stage
the second stage of the GAS model, where the body’s resistance continues to rise above normal, involves maintaining high levels of arousal (due to increased release of cortisol) in response to persistent stressor. Immune system suppressed leading to minor illnesses
Exhaustion
the third stage of the GAS model where the body cannot sustain its resistance to the stressor, involves the depletion of energy levels and bodily resources (and cortisol). results in vulnerability to extreme physical and mental disorders
Strengths of the GAS model
- provides information about physiological processes involved in stress
- establises strong connection between chronic stress and weakening of immune system
- described bodies attempt to physiologically adapt to stressor over a period of time
Limitation of GAS model
- overemphasises on biological processes, does not account for psychological processes
- results cannot be generalised to humans due to rats nervous system being less complex
- shock and countershock can occur simultaneously
The Gut-Brain axis
the bi-directional network between the sub (specifically gut microbiota) and the brain, which occurs via the vagus nerve, allowing communication between ENS and CNS
Enteric Nervous System
the network of nerves in the gut and is a subdivision of the autonomic nervous system
Gut microbiota
all of the microorganisms that live in the gut. Maintain gut health, assist in digestion, and regulate immune function
Gut microbiome
all of the genes of the microorganisms that live in the gut
Freeze Response
when confronted by a stressor, sympathetic nervous system is activated, however freeze occurs when the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system dominates over sympathetic NS, leading to a state of high arousal, immobility alertness and tension
Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (TMS)
A model that helps to track and interpret and individual’s subjective psychological stress response. It proposes that stress involves an encounter between individual and environment, and a stress response depends on the individuals interpretation (appraisal) of stressor and their ability to cope with it
Appraisal
an assessment or evaluation of stimuli
Primary Appraisal
the individual evaluates the significance of the stimulus
Irrelevant (primary appraisal)
Stimulus is not relevant to the persons wellbeing (no stres)
Benign-Positive (primary appraisal)
stimulus is perceived as being neutral or enhances wellbeing (no stress)
Stressful (primary appraisal)
stimulus is perceived as being significant (stress)
Harm/Loss (stressful - primary appraisal)
appraisal of damage that has already occurred (past). Sad/anger (distress)
Threat (stressful - primary appraisal)
appraisal of damage that may occur in the future. Fear/anxiety/worry (distress)
Challenge (stressful - primary appraisal)
appraisal for the opportunity of personal gain or growth. Excitement (eustress)
Secondary Appraisal
individual evaluates their coping resources to deal with the stressor
Inadequate coping resources (secondary appraisal)
continue to experience stress
Adequate Coping resources (secondary appraisal)
minimal to no stress
Strengths of TMS
- focuses on psychological factors of the stress response
- recognises the cognitive component in experiencing a stress response
- acknowledges that stress is a subjective experience
Limitations of TMS
- overlooks physiological responses
- difficult to test, subjective nature
- individuals may not always be aware of all factors causing stress
- primary and secondary appraisals can be undertaken simultaneously
