Chpt. 14 study guide

Question 1

stress

Answer 1

a process where an individual responds to events he sees as overwhelming or threatening

Question 2

stimulus-based vs response-based definitions

Answer 2

stimulus-based- stress is a threatening situation that causes certain responses

response-based- focuses on the physical stress responses that are a response to threatening situations

Question 3

Cognitive appraisals

Answer 3

primary- judgement about the degree of potential harm that a stressor might entail

secondary- judgment of the options available to cope with a stressor, and how effective they will be

Question 4

Eustress vs distress

Answer 4

Eustress- positive stress that motivates us to do things

distress- negative stress that causes people to feel burned out

Question 5

3 types of stress responses

Answer 5

• physiological: heart rate
• cognitive: difficulty concentrating
• behavioral: drinking

Question 6

Fight-or-Flight response

Answer 6

• identified by Walter cannon
• physical reactions that occur when an individual encounters a threat
• happens because of the sympathetic nervous system and endocrine system

Question 7

general adaptation syndrome

Answer 7

-researched by Hans Selye
- nonspecific physiological response to stress
- prolonged exposure to stressors causes adrenal enlargement, thymus and lymph node shrinkage, and stomach ulcerations

Question 8

stages of general adaptation syndrome

Answer 8

1. alarm reaction: body’s immediate reaction to an emergency
2. stage of resistance: body adapted to the stressor but remains alert
3. stage of exhaustion: body can no longer adapt to the stressor and physical wear occurs on the body

Question 9

sympathetic nervous system

Answer 9

triggers arousal with the release of adrenaline in response to a stressor

Question 10

hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

Answer 10

1. stress
2. hypothalamus releases corticotropin
3. pituitary releases ACTH
4. ACTH activates adrenal glands
5. Adrenal glands release hormones

Question 11

Social readjustment rating scale

Answer 11

a scale consisting of 43 life events that require personal readjustment

Question 12

psychophysiological disorders

Answer 12

physical disorders that symptoms are worsened by stress

Question 13

Psychoneuroimmunology

Answer 13

field that studies how psychological factors influence the immune system

Question 14

negative affectivity

Answer 14

tendency to experience distressed emotional states

Question 15

type a vs b personality

Answer 15

• developed by Friedman and Rosenman
• type a’s tend to be extremely competitive, impatient, and hostile towards others
• type b’s tend to be relaxed and laid back

Question 16

Problem-focused vs Emotion-focused coping

Answer 16

problem-focused- individual manages the problem that is causing them to experience stress

emotion-focused- individual reduces the negative emotions associated with stress

Question 17

Perceived control

Answer 17

our belief about our personal ability to influence outcomes

Question 18

Learned helplessness

Answer 18

an acquired belief that now is powerless in any situation

Question 19

How are negative events explained

Answer 19

• internal vs external
• global vs specific
• stable vs unstable

Question 20

Positive psychology

Answer 20

the science of happiness

Question 21

Positive affect

Answer 21

pleasurable engagement with the environment like joy, enthusiasm, and alertness

Question 22

flow

Answer 22

an experience that is so engaging that it becomes worth doing for its own sake