Chapter 3: Stress Part 2

Question 1

What is a harm/loss appraisal? Give an example:

Answer 1

An assessment of how much damage has already occurred.

Eg. I have failed my test

Question 2

What is a threat appraisal? Give an example:

Answer 2

An assessment of harm/loss that may not have happened yet, but may occur in the future.
Eg. I might not be able to pass the subject

Question 3

What is a challenge appraisal? Give an example:

Answer 3

An assessment of the potential for personal gain or growth from the situation.
Eg. I study really hard for the next one so I can pass

Question 4

What is a secondary appraisal? Give an example:

Answer 4

When we evaluate our ability to control or overcome the situation in which we find ourselves.
-Can be internal or external
Eg. Strength and perseverance

Question 5

What happens if coping resources are perceived to be inadequate in a secondary appraisal?

Answer 5

We are likely to experience a stress response

Question 6

List 2 strengths of the Transactional Modal:

Answer 6

• Accounts for individual differences in responses

- Responds to changes in individuals response through reappraisals

Question 7

List 2 limitations of the Transactional Modal:

Answer 7

• Lack of empirical evidence

- An overlap between primary and secondary appraisal stages

Question 8

What is coping?

Answer 8

A process involving ‘cognitive and behavioural efforts to manage specific internal and/or external stressors that are appraised as taxing or exceeding the resources of the person’ in a stressful situation.

Question 9

What is a coping strategy?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

When is a coping strategy considered to have context-specific effectiveness? Give an example:

Answer 10

When there is a match or ‘good fit’ between the coping strategy that is used and the stressful situation.
Eg. Being stressed about exams and having a coping strategy of planning and studying

Question 11

What is coping flexibility?

Answer 11

The ability to effectively modify or adjust one’s coping strategies according to the demands of different stressful situations.

Question 12

What do approach coping strategies involve? Give an example:

Answer 12

Involve efforts to confront the stressor and deal with it and its effects directly.
-Activity is focused towards the stressor
Eg. Losing a job and searching for a new one

Question 13

What do avoidant coping strategies involve? Give an example:

Answer 13

Involve efforts that evade a stressor and deal indirectly with it and its effects.
-Activity is focused away from the stressor
Eg. Losing a job and pretending it didn’t happen and trying to think about it

Question 14

What is exercise?

Answer 14

Physical activity that is usually planned and performed to improve or maintain one’s physical condition.
Eg. Going for a run to get fit

Question 15

Describe the HPA axis pathway:

Answer 15

1. The hypothalamus stimulates the nearby pituitary gland
2. The pituitary gland secretes hormones such as ACTH into the bloodstream which carries it to the adrenal cortex
3. ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex to secrete additional stress hormones called cortisol

Question 16

What is one of the effects of cortisol?

Answer 16

Energises the body by increasing supplies such as blood sugar and enhances metabolism.

Question 17

What is the difference between the fight-flight-freeze response and the HPA axis?

Answer 17

• The HPA axis usually takes significantly longer (secs or mins) for its effects to take place
• The HPA axis’s effects last longer (mins or hrs)

Question 18

What does the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping propose?

Answer 18

That stress involves an encounter (transaction) between an individual and their external environment, and that a stress response depends upon the individual’s evaluation (appraisal) of the relevance of the stressor to his or her wellbeing and their ability to cope with it.

Question 19

What is a primary appraisal? Give an example:

Answer 19

When we evaluate, or judge, the significance of the event and whether anything is at stake in this encounter.
-Whether the situation is threatening
Eg. Am I in trouble?

Question 20

What is the outcome of a primary appraisal and what happens if we decide a situation is stressful?

Answer 20

• When we decide whether the event is irrelevant, benign-positive, or stressful.
• If the situation is deemed stressful there are additional appraisals to decide whether the situation is harmful, threatening and/or challenging.

Question 21

What are catastrophes? Give some examples:

Answer 21

An unpredictable event that causes widespread damage or suffering, where it is considered to be stressful by the majority of people involved.
-Does not have to be experienced directly for it to be stressful
-Usually sudden and completely out of the individual’s control
Eg. Bushfires, floods, terrorist attacks

Question 22

Give 2 benefits of exercise:

Answer 22

• Uses up excess adrenaline and cortisol in the body, so that these stress hormones don’t damage the immune system.
• Releases mood-enhancing chemicals and endorphins