Exam 3: Stress

Question 1

Define: Stress

Answer 1

A demand made on an organism to adapt or adjust.

Stressor: A source of stress

Question 2

Define: Adjustment Disorder

Answer 2

A maladaptive reaction to an identified stressor, characterized by impaired functioning or emotional distress that exceeds what would normally be expected.

Question 3

Define: Endocrine System

Answer 3

The system of ductless glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.

Question 4

Define: Hormones

Answer 4

Substances secreted by endocrine glands that regulate body functions and promote growth and development.

Question 5

Define: General Adaptation Syndrome

Answer 5

(GAS) The body’s three-stage response to states of prolonged or intense stress

Question 6

Define: Alarm Reaction

Answer 6

The first stage of the GAS, characterized by heightened sympathetic nervous system activity

Question 7

Define: Flight-or-Fight Reaction

Answer 7

The inborn tendency to respond to a threat by either fighting or fleeing.

Question 8

Define: Resistance Stage

Answer 8

The second stage of the GAS, involving the body’s attempt to withstand prolonged stress and preserve resources.

Question 9

Define: Exhaustion Stage

Answer 9

The third stage of the GAS, characterized by lowered resistance, increased parasympathetic nervous system activity, and eventual physical deterioration.

Question 10

Define: Acculturative Stress

Answer 10

Pressure to adjust to a host or mainstream culture.

Question 11

Define: Emotion-Focused Coping

Answer 11

A coping style that involves reducing the impact of a stressor by ignoring or escaping it rather than dealing with it directly.

Question 12

Define: Problem-Focused Coping

Answer 12

A coping style that involves confronting a stressor directly.

Question 13

Define: Self-Efficacy Expectancies

Answer 13

Beliefs in one’s ability to cope with challenges and to accomplish particular tasks.

Question 14

Define: Psychological Hardiness

Answer 14

A cluster of stress-buffering traits characterized by commitment, challenge, and control.

Question 15

Define: Positive Psychology

Answer 15

A growing contemporary movement within psychology that focuses on the positive attributes of human behavior.

Question 16

Define: Psychosomatic

Answer 16

Pertaining to a physical disorder in which psychological factors play a causal or contributing role.

Question 17

Define: Biofeedback Training

Answer 17

(BFT) A method of giving an individual information (feedback) about bodily functions so that the person can gain some degree of control over them.

Question 18

Define: Type A Behavior Pattern

Answer 18

(TABP) A behavior pattern characterized by a sense of time urgency, competitiveness, and hostility.

Question 19

Walter Cannon

consider stress as a response

Answer 19

Developed “homeostasis” getting back to a state of balance—our response in stressful situations is meant to restore balance

Question 20

Hans Selye

consider stress as a response

Answer 20

“Nonspecific Response” EX: Rats who died during a study due to the stress induced by the shot given to the subjects each day
WE ALL RESPOND TO STRESS DIFFERENTLY
biologically, we are built to endure short-term stress

Question 21

General Adaptation Syndrome

consider stress as a response

Answer 21

“A model to explain the effects of long-term stress”
+Stressor occurs and we enter ALARM PHASE {Fight or Flight} (high use of resources), however you can’t maintain that level forever so you enter the…
+RESISTANCE PHASE—when you’ve identified the stressor and are trying to cope with the ongoing pressure, which is an issue because you are still expending resources (if this goes on too long you enter…)
+EXHAUSTION—when things start to go wrong (immune system issues)

Question 22

Holmes & Rahe
Social Readjustment Rating Scale
consider stress as a stimulus

Answer 22

(even good events can be stressful) points were assigned to events indicating the severity

Question 23

Holmes & Rahe
Diathesis-Stress Model
consider stress as a stimulus

Answer 23

Model (Diathesis- an inherited vulnerability or weakness)
H&R claim that the place stress hits you first (a vulnerability) is inherited. Chronic stress shows up in the weakest system. D-S Model argues that if your stress typically “hits” you in your weakest system you will crash first—as opposed to someone who’s stress hits them in one of their stronger systems.
This model is frequently used in medical reviews.

Question 24

Yerkes-Dodson Curve

consider stress as a stimulus

Answer 24

Performance VS Levels of Arousal
If arousal is increased, performance improves as well. Implies that there is an optimal level of arousal that will yield in the best performance. However, this curve is dependent upon the type of task (and the difficulty of the task) that is presented. The more difficult the task, the less arousal/stimulation is desired because the task itself can keep you engaged.

Question 25

Factors that Predispose to Stress

Answer 25

• Nature (short-lived or ongoing/one or multiple)
• Predictability (a double-edged sword)
• Resources (do your resources prevent or worsen stress)
• Control (Martin Seligman “Dog Torturer”—learned helplessness)
• Perception (Pain Control video “pain is a construct of the mind” “pain is an emotion”)

Question 26

Coronary Prone Behavior Pattern:

Answer 26

The original name/term for “Type A” used because it correlates with heart disease and hypertension.
5 Behaviors:
1) sense of time/urgency
2) sense of unrelenting external demands 3) competitive
4) abrupt in gestures and speech
5) exhibit chronic cynicism and hostility

Question 27

Psychosomatic/Psychogenic/Psycho-physiological Disorders:

Answer 27

Body conditions believed to be affected by mental disorders: headaches, asthma, heart disease, cancer, strokes
The heading in the DSM has been renamed Psychological Factors Affecting Medical Condition.
There aren’t any conditions listed because of a change in thinking; any psychological factor can affect a medical condition.
“This is the great error of our day—that the physicians separate the body from the soul.”

Question 28

Adjustment Disorder:

Answer 28

Probably one of the most stigmatizing of the disorders, the “least sticky of the labels.” Must exhibit maladaptive (more extreme than most people) response to an identifiable disorder. {time sensitive}