Exam 4 Flashcards
Stress response
The reaction to some kind of stressor (involves internal/external adaptation by an individual)
Primary appraisal
Stress
Evaluation of how (potentially) harmful a particular situation is
Secondary appraisal
Stress
Evaluation of whether the individual possesses the resources to successfully face the demands of the situation
3 Stressors positive effects
- Momentary stress can mobilize immune system to fend off infections and heal wounds
- Arouses us and motivates us to conquer problems
- Experiencing some stress builds resilience, personal strength to cope and recover
Stressors negative effects
- More vulnerable to colds
- Can catch disease faster or lead to a faster decline
(Stress increases spread of cancer, increases vulnerability to heart disease) - Decreased immune function in response to grief
(First time a connection b/t grief and immune function was demonstrated.
Also proves to divorce.) - Surgical wounds heal more slowly
- Inflammation
More trauma people experience→bodies generate inflammation→heart problems, asthma, and other health problems
More prone to inflammation if they experience social threats (including harshly raised children) - Stress of caring for someone with a chronic illness delays wound recovery
- Pregnant women with overactive stress systems have shorter pregnancies (more health risks for infants)
Stress Response system
Walter Cannon
Fight or Flight Response: Activation of the sympathetic nervous system in response to stress (increased heart rate, redirected blood flow, pain suppression).
(Sympathetic nervous system helps more with immediate threats than distant threats (long term))
Stress response system
General Adaptation Syndrome - Hans Selye
3 phases:
Alarm reaction
Resistance
Exhaustion
Alarm reaction - General Adaptation Syndrome - Hans Selye
First reaction to stressor. Sympathetic nervous system is activated. Any resistance stops.
Resistance - General Adaptation Syndrome - Hans Selye
Second phase.
Symptoms remain high.
If you are in the presence of a stressor too long→body/individual adapts to the stressor→inc resistance occurs→ reactions/symptoms disappear.
Exhaustion - General Adaptation Syndrome - Hans Selye
Third phase.
Long-continued exposure versus down body’s resistance. Adaptation energy is exhausted, alarm reaction signs reappear
Susceptible to illness, individual can eventually die
Immune system is in the ____ nervous system.
Parasympathetic
Immune system consists of
Lymphocytes (Specialized WBC)
Natural killer cells (NK cells): Attack diseases
Macrophages: Destroy worn-out cells
How immune function is measured
3 ways
- Blood sample & count WBC
(Healthier has more WBC) - Add cancer cells to blood sample and measure NK activity
-
Challenge system and record response (not sample blood, just on actual body)
Ex: Allergy test
Underreacting immune system
Immune system may allow bacterial infections to flare, dormant virus to erupt, or cancer cells to multiply
Overreacting immune system
____ are more susceptible to autoimmune diseases.
Immune system may attack the body. Allergic reaction, other self-attacking autoimmune diseases (lupus, multiple sclerosis)
Women (even though more immunologically stronger) are more susceptible to autoimmune diseases
Daily life events is related to antibody levels
Good things in lives=higher antibody levels, improvement in immune system functions
Bad things in lives=lower antibody levels, deprovement in immune system functions
Environmental + Stress factors
People who are stressed engage in behaviors that compromise immune function
Might not eat as well when stressed
Might not exercise when stressed
Increasing infectious disease-related deaths
Type A Personality
- Demonstrates competitive orientation towards achievement
- Sense of urgency about time
- Strong tendency to feel anger and hostility
Mainly the anger that leaders to greater risk of cardiac events - Greater risk of cardiac events
Bc their sympathetic nervous system is normally activated→blood redistributed to skeletal muscles (aka blood pulled AWAY from internal organs) →liver (normally removes cholesterol and fat) can’t do its job→Excess cholesterol and fat in blood→ get deposited around heart
Type B Personality
- Demonstrates relatively low levels of competitiveness
- Not as urgent about time
- Not hostile
- Avg risk cardiac events
Phony Type B’s
- Appear to be type B’s but underneath are competitive, tense, hostile, and troubled
- Greatest risk of cardiac events
Types of personality
Type A
Type B
Phony Type Bs
Personality - Depression effects
Heart problems
Smoke
Supressing emotions
Cancer
- People age fast and die sooner
- 2x likely to be dead in the following 5 yrs
- More likely to develop heart problem or have heart attack
- More likely to smoke more and exercise less
- Suppressing negative emotions increases depression, relationship problems, health risks
- Treating depression in those with cancer can improve quality of life but doesn’t inc survival rate
Emotional ups and downs
Days of the week
- Most to least positive days, friday saturday sunday thursday monday tuesday wednesday worst
One day
- Positive emotion rises from early morning to middle of day, then decreases. Positive emotions inc again at end of day
Awful events like grief take longer to heal
Money and happiness
National wealth
Personal income
Economic growth
Inequality
National wealth matters - people in countries where a majority of the people have secure livelihood are normally happier than those in poor countries
Personal income matters (up to a point) - Having enough money to eat, feel control, and treat yourself makes you happier. Power of more money to increase happiness is strongest at low incomes (Ex: $2000 means more to a person w 20k income than someone with 200k income)
Economic growth in countries hasn’t inc happiness
Extreme inequality leads to unhappiness
Adaptation level phenomenon
Forming judgments relative to a neutral level defined by our prior experience
Happiness is relative
Relative deprivation
Perception that we are worse off relative to those with whom we compare ourselves
- Believing others are better than us makes us feel worse
Happiness is relative
Pessimism
_ more likely to develop heart disease
Attribute poor performance
Genes
- 2x more likely than optimists to develop heart disease
- Attribute poor performance to their lack of ability (“I can’t do this”) or situations beyond their control (“there’s nothing I can do”)
- Genetic but can learn to be optimist
Pessimists are ____ more likely than optimists to develop heart disease.
2x
Optimism
____ control than pessimist
Physical
Mental
Grades
Relationships
Genetic
- Expect more control than pessimists
- Less fatigue, fewer coughs, aches, and pains during finals
- Better moods, stronger immune systems
- Better grades because they respond to setbacks with a hopeful attitude that they can improve
- Relationships - more supportive and satisfied
- Genetic but can learn to be pessimist
Benefits of anger
- Communicates strength and competence
- Motivates people to be courageous and achieve goals
- Can be good if you express you are upset in a way that promotes reconciliation
Catharsis
The idea that releasing aggressive energy relieves aggressive urges
Can be temporarily calming, but rarely provides full relief
Sometimes can magnify anger (lead to more anger)
How to decrease anger
3 ways
Wait
Find healthy distraction (Exercise, reading, talking it through)
Distance yourself
Stressors
3 types
- Catastrophes
- Significant life changes
- Daily hassles and Social stress
Approach/approach situations
- Choosing between two good options
- Least stressful
Avoidance/avoidance situations
- Choosing between two bad options
Clean bathroom vs doing dishes
Approach/avoidance situations
- Choosing between one good and one bad option
Choosing to go to game but then you won’t have time for homework