Characteristics of stress

Question 1

define stress

Answer 1

stress is a biological and psychological response experienced on encountering a threat that we feel we do not have the resources to deal with

Question 2

there are two main elements of stress
stress is a physical response

Answer 2

1. stress is a physical response- Hans Selye carried out research on rats and described general physical response to stress that involves the activation of the nervous system to release hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline that makes us more able to deal with the stressor. For example adrenaline prepares the body to face the stressor head by giving us the resources needed to either react offensively (fight) or defensively(flight). Cortisol releases glucose for energy.

Question 3

there are two main elements of stress
stress is a psychological response

Answer 3

how we respond also depends on how we percieve it. Richard Lazarus and Susan Folkman proposed a transactional model of stress. In this approach, stress is seen as an interaction between the person and the environment. When a stressor is experianced the person makes a judgement as to whether they have the resources available to cope with the situation. The primary appraisal involves a consideration of whether the threat is significant to the individual and whether it is harmful or challenging in any way. The secondary appraisal is a consideration of the resources that are available to combat the stressor. Weighing up these two considerations determines the stress response made

Question 4

secondary appraisal

Answer 4

secondary appraisal is a consideration of the resources that are available to combat the stressor.

Question 4

primary appraisal

Answer 4

The primary appraisal involves a consideration of whether the threat is significant to the individual and whether it is harmful or challenging in any way.

Question 5

what are the different types of stress

Answer 5

1. acute stress
2. episodic stress
3. chronic stress

Question 6

acute stress

Answer 6

this is the most common form of stress experianced it is the response to an immediate threat such as taking an exam in a deadline at work

Question 7

episodic stress

Answer 7

refers to repeated instances of short term stress, for example taking on too much work, which means that the individual is experiancing frequent demands on their time.
Occasionally this kind of stress will cease, unlike chronic stress. For individuals experiencing this kind of stress it can become part of their personality and normal lifestyle

Question 8

Chronic stress

Answer 8

refers to that which persists over a long period of time such as that caused by poverty or persistent relationship problems, like being trapped in an unhappy marriage. An individual suffering with chronic stress will see no escape from a never ending situation, and it can be very difficult to treat an manage as the individual may have got used to it being there

Question 9

Eustress

Answer 9

selye first combined the word stress in psychological sense of the word and used the word eustress to describe positive stress. This refers to any form of stress that is beneficial- sometimes it provides motivation and prepares us to face a particular situation.
sports people say they perform better when under a certain level of stress and arousal. = too much stress and arousal may have negative effect- shown on yerkes dodson curve

Question 10

describe main characteristics of stress

Answer 10

selyes gas model
lazarus and folkman
yerkes and dodson law of arousal

Question 11

Selyes gas model

Answer 11

General Adaption Syndrome
this consists of 3 stages
1. alarm, the body activates flight of fight response when it percieves a stressor
2. resistance, involves ongoing adaptations to the stressor when the body is maintaining heightened alterness, if stress persists or resources are depleted
3. exhausation stage is reached leading to emotional and physical burnout. Adrenal glands cease and function normally and there is a drastic fall in blood sugar levels

Question 12

Lazarus and folkman

Answer 12

transactional model of stress
stress is seen as an interaction between person and environment
they proposed two main types.. when a stressor is experienced the person makes a judgement as to whether they have the resources to cope with the situation
Primary and secondary appraisal

Question 13

EUSTRESS

Answer 13

selye combined the word stress in the psychological sense of the world and then used the word eustress to describe positive stress. This refers to any form of stress that might be beneficial
provide motivation
prepare us to face particular situation
However too much stress and arousal may start to have a negative effect on performance - Yerkes Dodson Law of Arousal