Chapter 3 Flashcards
Eustress
A positive psychological response to a stressor, as indicated by positive states such as feeling enthusiastic, excited, active and alert.
Distress
A negative psychological response to a stressor, indicated by negative psychological states such as anger, anxiety or nervousness, irritability or tension.
Daily pressures
A type of stressor involving little problems of everyday living that are irritants.
Life events
A type of stressor in everyday life involving change that forces an individual to adapt to new circumstances.
Acculturative stress
The stress people experience in trying to adapt to a new culture when living in it for a considerable period of time.
Major stressors
A type of stressor involving an event that is extraordinarily stressful or disturbing for almost everyone who experiences it.
Catastrophe
An unpredictable event that causes widespread damage or suffering. As a stressor, the event is one that the majority of people involved would interpret as being stressful.
Fight-flight-freeze response
An involuntary, physical response to a sudden and immediate threat (or stressor) in readiness for fight (confront), flight (escape) or freeze (avoid detection).
Fight-flight reactions
Reactions initiated by the sympathetic Nervous System that prepare the body to fight off a threat or escape from it.
Freeze reaction
Reaction that results in an organism being in a physiological state involving high arousal of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, resulting in a condition characterised by both energy conservation and mobilised state ready for action.
Cortisol
A hormone secreted from the adrenal cortex to primarily energise the body in response to a stressor.
Alarm reaction
The first stage of the General Adaption Syndrome in which the body goes into a temporary state of shock, then rebounds (countershock), following initial exposure to a stressor.
Resistance Stage
The second stage of the General Adaption Syndrome, when the body’s resistance to the particular stressor develops and rises above its normal levels.
Exhaustion Stage
The third stage of the General Adaption Syndrome when the body can no longer sustain resistance and the effects of the stressor can no longer be dealt with, resulting in the organism becoming weak and more vulnerable to physical and mental disorders.
Strengths of GAS
-One of the first to link stress to disease
-Involved a clear three phases common to all
stressors
-Incorporated an exhaustion phase
Limitations of GAS
-Assumes everyone has exactly the same responses, which may not be true. ‘One size fits all’ model
-Doesn’t take into account a cognitive viewpoint e.g. two different people may judge the same situation differently – stressful or not stressful
-Was tested on rats – may not be fully applicable to humans
Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping
The Lazarus and Folkman Transactional Model of Stress and Coping states that stress involves an encounter (or transaction) between an individual and their environment, and that a stress response depends upon the individual’s appraisal of the stressor and their ability to cope.
Primary appraisal
An evaluation of the significance of a potential stressor resulting in a decision that it is either irrelevant, benign (positive) or stressful
Secondary appraisal
An evaluation of coping options and resources that may be available for dealing with a stressor.
Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping Strengths
- Understands that each individual will react differently to a situation
- The individual has an active, rather than a passive, role
- Includes personal appraisals of a situation, which explains why people react in different ways to the
same stressor
Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping Limitations
- Difficult to test through experimental research
- Primary and secondary appraisals are often undertaken simultaneously and can interact with each
other. They are therefore difficult to isolate for study - Doubt whether we actually need to appraise something as stressful to have a stress response
Coping strategy
A specific method that individuals use to manage the stress produced by a stressor. There are many different types of coping strategies.
Context-Specific Effectiveness
Coping strategy ‘matching’ the stressor. For example, if a student has a big test coming up, a coping strategy that incorporates positive action, such as study, would be effective. However, strategies such as mental distancing (not thinking about the test) will likely be ineffective.
Coping Flexibility
an individual’s ability to effectively change or modify their coping technique when necessary. People with a high coping flexibility are able to change their coping strategies if their current strategy isn’t working. People with a low coping flexibility tend to stick to the same strategies across a number of situations, even if they are being proven ineffective. As expected, people with a high coping flexibility tend to handle stress more effectively.
Exercise
Exercise is a common strategy for coping with stress. Exercise can help to reduce stress by:
- Using up stress hormones in the blood for energy
- Increases cardiovascular fitness and stamina, which increases an individual’s ability to cope with future
stressors
- Giving a short-term psychological boost
- Beta-endorphins, which promote relaxation and wellbeing, are released during exercise.
- Provide a distraction from the stressor
Approach coping strategies
involve direct efforts to confront a stressor and deal directly with it. Activity is focused towards the stressor. For example, if stressed about an upcoming exam, an approach strategy would be to study harder and ensure that you are prepared.
Avoidance coping strategies
involve efforts that evade a stressor and deal indirectly with it. Activity is focused away from the stressor. For example, if stressed about an upcoming exam, an avoidance strategy would be to try and relax by catching up with friends, or preparing for the worst and not trying.
