HC 5 Flashcards
Is stress good/bad?
depends on the amount of stress and the treat value + resources of an individual to cope with a stressful situation
Yekes-dodson law
the optimum level of arousal vs performance: there is an optimum level of arousal that results in the maximum performance
When is tress unhealthy?
when we chronically activate stress systems which are developed for the acute fight-flight situations
Allostasis
Achieving homeostasis (stability) through psychological & behavioral adaptation, in response to a challenge
Allostatic (over) load
demands > energy supply: system works too hard to try to achieve a balance –> slowly breaks down
Overload of psy. system due to wear & tear of the body e.g. during repeated or prolonged stress
prolonged or repeated release of physical responses to stress can have negative effects, consequences:
reinstatement tot normal body functions (homeostasis) may fail & system will wear out (excessive energy consumption during high stress)
two stress systems:
- SNS –> sympathetic nervous system
2. HPA –> hypothalamic agents
SNS
singaling agents: neurotransmitters –> (nor)adrenaline
HPA
signaling agents: hormones –> glucocorticoids (cortisol)
= hormones, endocrine system (blood)
Physiological stress response (SNS, HPA)
SNS–> short lived response-immediate action
HPA –> longer-term arousal
Difference sympathetic vs parasympathetic arousal
sympathetic = activation parasympathetic = relaxation
Feedback loops
when the stress has abated, feedback loops initiate an automatic turn off
prolonged stress response
if acute psycho stress system responses are repeatedly activated, tissue damage and diseases can occur
Stress and the brain
chronisch stress causes remodeling of dendrites and synaptic connections in may brain regions
psychological stressresponse in illness: direct & indirect effects
direct effect: slowing down cell repair in cancer patients
indirect effect: influence on behavior –> increased risk behaviors or illness perception (appraisal)
GAS - general adaptation syndrome (Selye)
stress is an innate drive to maintain homeostasis
3 stages:
1. alarm - initial response/increased arousal
2. resistance - adaptation & mobilisation
3. exhaustion - depletion of bodily resources
Types of stressors
- transient (specific events –> stress)
* repeated or chronic (intermittent stress)
transient stress
- acute time limiting stressors
- traumatic events
- (major) life events –> life events theory
repeated or chronic stress
- daily hassles
- work-related stress
trait anxiety & stress exposure
- partially mediates the stress exposure and PTSD
- fully mediates this relation with depression
predisposition for psychopathology (ptsd, depression) mainly depends on trait anxiety + life events, but genetic variation of the HPA-axis and gender are also important
transactional model of stress (stress as a subjective experience)- (Lazarus)
- cognitive appraisal is central
- interaction between an event (stressor) and individual characteristics
primary appraisal
- perceived demands –> challenge or threat?
personal meaning of an event, consideration of quality & nature of event
Closely related emotions & dependent on motivational relevance/congruence and ego involvement
3 type of stressors:
- harm-loss
- threat (future harm/loss)
- challenge (demands seen as opportunities for personal growth)