Human Overload And Stress Flashcards
Arousal
State of physiological or psychological excitement.
Higher Heart rate/higher blood pressure/increased physical response capability
Increased sensitivity to stimuli/increase wakefulness and alertness
Autonomic Nervous System
Stress
Heightened state of arousal caused by external and internal events called stressors
Stress increases
Arousal which increase vigilance
Stress key points
Cumulative
Subjective
Natural
Experience helps ward of stress
Too much stress degrades performance
Optimum performance is achieved at what level of stress
Acute stress increases alertness, vigilance and arousal and prepares body for action
Domestic Stressors NO1
Death of a relative
Physiological Stressors
Anything that impacts senses or physiological balance
Heat/noise/vibration/humidity/hunger/circadian rhythm
More stressful stressor when its perception of control is low
Psychological Stressors
Within the mind
Rational or irrational fear or anxiety and phobias
Causes of stress
Occupational - shift work/job security
Psychological - Fears/Anxiety/Job security
Physiological - vibration/heat/humidity
Domestic - death/divorce/social
Stress/Arousal levels past the break point
Stress will increase
Arousal will increase
All negative
Overload - cause and physiological effects
Is due to stress
Increase in blood pressure/low mood/decreased cognitive performance/unable to concentrate/insomnia/tunnelling/incapacitation
Underload - causes/consequences
Routine/repetitive/long periods of inactivity/high automation
Underperformance/reduce communication/reduced flying skills
Stress is subjective of what two things
Actual demands of the stress
Perceived demands to cope with the stress
General Adaptation Syndrome Stages
Alarm Stage - Adrenaline (initial shock/heart rate up/breathing up)
Resistance - cortisone (sustained physiological changes - mobilisation of blood sugars)
Exhaustion - accumulation of stressors/heart rate comes down return to homeostasis but can lead to illness
GAS Syndrome is triggered by the
Autonomic Nervous System
Chronic Stress is
Repeated episodes of increased heart rate leading to hardening of arteries can cause physiological illness (heart attack)
Acute Stress
Mobilisation of resources to cope with situation
Can be a good thing for performance
Can lead to chronic stress though
Break Point
Unable to cope with physiological and psychological response from cumulative stress
Performance from this point onwards is degraded
Three reactions to stress
Psychological - restlessness/nervousness/behaviour changes
Psychomatic - spots/ulcers/cold sores/hear issues
Somatic - Autonomic response fails to react as quickly
Regression
Reverting old solutions to a new problem
Correct actions forgotten
Fatigue causes x4
Inadequate rest
Disruption to circadian rhythm
Excessive physical
Excessive cognitive stress
Fatigue is
Non pathological state resulting in a decreased ability to maintain function or workload due to mental/physical stress
Chronic Fatigue
Cumulative and caused by external period of excessive workload
Acute Fatigue
Everyday lift
Lack of sleep/going out to work 9-5
Relaxing/sleep will resolve
Fatigue Risk Management System
Balance costs/productivity and safety in aviation
Data/risk assessment process
Applies to all aviation staff involved in operations
Coping with stress
Direct action - remove stressor
Information seeking - cognitive coping to understand stress
Inhibition - do nothing (only effective short term)
Palative coping - treating symptoms (drugs)
Support - turning to other for emotional support
Anxiety
Imaginary stress worries that do not go away when stressor is removed
Stress exposure training
Seen as a long term problem focused coping method.
Distress
Positive Stress increase vigilance and performance
