chapter 6 (stress) Flashcards
stress
negative emotional experience accompanied by predictable biochemical, physiological, cognitive, and behavioural changes that are directed either toward altering the stressful event or accommodating to its effects.
stressors
events perceived to be stressful.
person-environment fit
the degree to which the needs and resources of a person and the needs and resources of an environment complement each other.
fight-or-flight response
a response to threat in which the body is rapidly aroused and motivated via the sympathetic nervous system and endocrine system to attack or flee a threatening stimulus; the response was first described by walter cannon in 1932.
general adaptation syndrome (GAS)
hans selye. profile of how organisms respond to stress. characterized by three phases:
1. nonspecific mobilization phase. promotes nervous system activity.
2. resistance phase. organism makes efforts to cope with threat.
3. exhaustion phase. occurs if organism fails to overcome threat and depletes physiological resources.
tend-and-befriend
a theory of responses to stress that maintains that, in addition to fight-or-flight, humans respond to stress with social and nurturant behaviour; these responses may be especially true of women.
primary appraisal
the perception of a new or changing environment as beneficial, neutral, or negative in its consequences. believed to be a first step in stress and coping.
secondary appraisal
assessment of one’s coping abilities and resources and judgment as to whether they will be sufficient to meet the harm, threat, or challenge of a new or changing event.
reactivity
the predisposition to react physiologically to stress, believed to be genetically based in part. high reactivity is believed to be a risk factor for a range of stress-related diseases.
allostatic load
the accumulating adverse effects of stress, in conjunction with pre-existing risks, on biological stress regulatory systems.
chronic strain
a stressful experience that is a usual but continually stressful aspect of life.
after-effects of stress
performance and attentional decrements that occur after a stressful event has subsided; believed to be produced by the residual physiological, emotional, and cognitive draining in response to stressful events.
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
a syndrome that results after exposure to a stressor of extreme magnitude, marked by emotional numbing, the reliving of aspects of the trauma, intense responses to other stressful events, and other symptoms, such as excessive vigilance, sleep disturbance, guilt, or impaired memory/concentration.
acute stress paradigm
laboratory procedure whereby an individual goes through moderately stressful procedures (such as counting backwards rapidly by 7s), so that stress-related changes in emotions and physiological and/or neuroendocrine processes may be assessed.
social buffering
a phenomenon where the presence of a partner reduces one’s stress responses.
stressful life events
events that force an individual to make changes in their life; these range from cataclysmic events such as the death of one’s spouse or being fired from a job, to more mundane but still problematic events such as moving to a new home.
perceived stress
the perception that an event is stressful independent of its objective characteristics.
daily hassles
minor daily stressful events; believed to have a cumulative effect in increasing the likelihood of illness.
bullying
acts intended to harm, which are repeated over time and often occur in a relationship where there is an imbalance of power.
cyberbullying
bullying that uses cyberspace (computers, blogs, text messages) to harass the victim, causing social and emotional harm over time.
role conflict
conflict that occurs when two or more social or occupational roles that a individual occupies produce conflicting standards for behaviour.
work-life balance
the concept of making multiple roles simultaneously in one;s life; most adults are workers, partners, and parents, and each of these roles entails heavy, and potentially stressful obligations.
