CHP3: Stress as a psychological process (C-D) AOS 1

Question 1

List the components in primary appraisal (two substages)

Answer 1

Substage 1: benign-positive, irrelevant, and stressful

Substage 2: Harm/loss, threat, challenge

Question 2

Benign-positive

Answer 2

An initial appraisal of stimulus is positive or neutral, and as such will not cause stress.

Question 3

Irrelevant

Answer 3

An initial appraisal of the stimulus is perceived as not presenting an issue or source of worry for the individual and the stimulus will not cause them stress.

Question 4

Stressful

Answer 4

An initial appraisal of the stimulus is perceived as a source of worry and as such is interpreted as being a stressor.

Question 5

Harm/loss

Answer 5

The stressor is perceived as already caused some damage for the individual and the individual has experienced distress.

Question 6

Challenge

Answer 6

The stressor is perceived as potentially providing a good opportunity for change or growth in an individual and causes distress to be experienced.

Question 7

Threat

Answer 7

The stressor is perceived as potentially causing damage for the individual in the future.

Question 8

Appraisal

Answer 8

An assessment or evaluation.

Question 9

Primary appraisal

Answer 9

The initial process of evaluating the nature of an incoming stressor, specifically the kind of stress it will cause.

Question 10

Secondary appraisal

Answer 10

The process of evaluating the resources available and required in order to cope with stress.

Question 11

Reappraisal

Answer 11

The attempt to reinterpret an emotion-eliciting situation in a way that alters its meaning and changes its emotional impact.

Question 12

Context-specific effectiveness

Answer 12

When the coping strategy or mechanism used is appropriate for the demands of the stressor.

Question 13

Coping flexibility

Answer 13

An individual’s ability to adjust, modify or change their coping strategies depends on the unique and changing demands of a stressor.

Question 14

Exercise

Answer 14

Physical activity performed to improve a person’s health and wellbeing.

Question 15

Approach strategies

Answer 15

Coping mechanisms which involve directly confronting and working to reduce with stress in a practical way.

Question 16

Avoidance strategies

Answer 16

Coping mechanisms which involve evading or distracting oneself from the source of stress that deal with the emotional components of stress channelling thoughts and behaviour away from the stressor.

Question 17

Coping

Answer 17

A process involving ‘cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage specific internal and external stressors that are appraised as the meeting or exceeding the resources of the person.

Question 18

Coping strategies

Answer 18

Specific methods, behavioural or psychological, that people use to manage or reduce stress produced by a stressor.

Question 19

Emotion-focused coping

Answer 19

The use of coping strategies that target the emotional components of a stressor, dealing with it indirectly rather than confronting its source.

Question 20

Problem-focused coping

Answer 20

The use of coping strategies that directly target the source of the stressor aims to reduce it in a practical way.

Question 21

Describe a physiological benefit of exercise

Answer 21

Some forms of exercise ‘use up’ stress hormones like cortisol, which when released too often, can suppress the functioning of the immune system, and cause further stress.

Question 22

Describe a psychological benefit of exercise

Answer 22

Exercise can provide a break or distraction from persistent stressors, reducing anxiety.