chapter 3 - stress

Question 1

Stress

Answer 1

a state of physiological and psychological arousal produced by internal or external stressors, that are perceived by the individual as challenging or exceeding their ability or resources to cope.

Question 2

Stressor

Answer 2

any person, situation or event that produces stress & challenges our ability to cope.
-physical
-psychological
-internal/external
subjective

Question 3

Eustress

Answer 3

positive psychological response to a stressor eg. Feeling excited, active and alert. It is usually a short -term type of stress

Question 4

Distress

Answer 4

negative psychological response to a stressor eg anger, anxiety, nervousness or tension. This can be both short and long term

Question 5

Daily pressures

Answer 5

A type of stressor involving little problems of everyday living that are irritants; also called hassles.
different for different areas of life
-cleaing room
-conflicts w gf or bf
-concerns abt weight

Question 6

Life events

Answer 6

a type of stressor in everyday life involving change that forces an individual to adapt to new circumstances.
-divorce
-new job

Question 7

Acculturative stress

Answer 7

The stress people experience in trying to adapt to a new culture when living in it for a considerable period of time.
-migrants/refugees

Question 8

major stress

Answer 8

A type of stressor involving an event that is extraordinarily stressful or disturbing for almost everyone who experiences it.
- typically something life threatening

Question 9

Catastrophe

Answer 9

An unpredictable event that causes widespread damage or suffering.
-psychological symptoms that can last long after the event has passed. E.g. PTSD
-World War

Question 10

stress as a biological process - the two models

Answer 10

the fight–flight–freeze response and the General Adaptation Syndrome

Question 11

The fight–flight–freeze response

Answer 11

is an involuntary, physical response to a sudden and immediate threat (or stressor) in readiness to
fight — confronting and fighting off the threat
flight — escaping by running away to safety
freeze — keeping absolutely still and silent, avoiding detection.

Question 12

two stress hormones

Answer 12

adrenaline (also called epinephrine)
and noradrenaline (also called norepinephrine).

Question 13

cortisol

Answer 13

A hormone secreted from the adrenal cortex to primarily energise the body in response to a stressor

Question 14

HPA axis

Answer 14

is activated if a stressor persists, resulting in the release of cortisol.
- the HPA axis takes significantly longer (seconds to minutes) to exert its influences.
- Its effects also persist for a much longer time (minutes to hours).

Question 15

effect amount of cortisol can lead to

Answer 15

impaired immune system functioning and thereby increased vulnerability to disease

Question 16

GAS

Answer 16

General Adaptation Syndrome

Question 17

General Adaptation Syndrome DEF

Answer 17

three-stage response to a stressor involving alarm reaction (shock/countershock), resistance and exhaustion.

Question 18

GAS stage 1

Answer 18

Alarm reaction
First become aware of the stressor
state of shock, and its ability to deal with the stressor falls to below its normal level
During countershock, the sympathetic nervous system is activated and the body’s resistance to the stressor increases

Question 19

GAS stage 2

Answer 19

Resistance
the body’s resistance to the particular
stressor rises above normal
all unnecessary physiological processes are shut down e.g. digestion.
The hormones abnormally high levels leaves the immune system weak and susceptible to illness/disease

Question 20

GAS stage 3

Answer 20

Exhaustion
the body can no longer sustain resistance and the effects of a stressor can no longer be dealt with, resulting in the organism becoming weak and more vulnerable to physical and mental disorders.

Question 21

Strengths of GAS

Answer 21

it measures a predictable pattern that can be measured in individuals
- if stress is prolonged stages are all experiences therefore tracks biological patters in different types of stress

Question 22

limitations of GAS

Answer 22

• research was not conducted on humas
• GAS tends to underestimate the roles of bodily functions (not endocrine) and over looks the psychological factors.

Question 23

difference between physiological and psychological response

Answer 23

physiological responses are automatically occurring, they’re predictable and involuntary
psychological response is not involuntary and we have control over them on an individual level

Question 24

Lazarus and Folkmans Transactional model of stress and coping DEF.

Answer 24

proposes that stress involves an encounter (transaction) between an individual and their environment – stress response depends on the individuals interpretation (appraisal) of the stress and their judgment of their ability to cope with it.

Question 25

primary appraisal

Answer 25

we evaluate or judge the significance of the situation The outcome of the primary appraisal is a decision about whether the situation is: relevant, benign-positive or stressful

Question 26

Secondary appraisal:

Answer 26

we evaluate our coping options, resources and options for dealing with the stressful situation.
Coping can be internal (e.g strength & determination) or external (e.g. money, support from family & friends).

Question 27

strengths of Transactional model of stress and coping

Answer 27

• accounts for individual differences in response
• responds to changes in individuals response through reappraisal

Question 28

limitations of Transactional model of stress and coping

Answer 28

• lack of imperial evidernce
• an overlap between primary and secondary appraisal stages

Question 29

coping defintion

Answer 29

the process of constantly changing cognitive & behavioural efforts to manage specific internal or external stressors that are appraised as taxing or exceeding the resources of a person.

Question 30

coping strategy def.

Answer 30

is a specific method, behavioural or psychological, that people use to manage or reduce the stress produced by a stressor.

Question 31

Two commonly used categories of coping with stress

Answer 31

approach and avoidance coping.

Question 32

Approach coping strategies

Answer 32

involve efforts to confront a stressor and deal directly
with it and its effects

Question 33

Avoidance coping strategies

Answer 33

An effort that evades a stressor and which indirectly deals with the stressor and its effects; compare with approach coping strategy.

Question 34

3 strategies for coping with stress

Answer 34

1. Context specific effectiveness: In relation to coping with stress, when there is a match or ‘good fit’ between the coping strategy that is used and the stressful situation 2. Coping flexibility: The ability to effectively modify or adjust one’s coping strategies according to the demands of different stressful situations.
2. Exercise: is physical activity that is usually planned and performed to improve or maintain one’s physical condition