PSYC 2015 Ch 11: Stress, Coping & Health Flashcards
clinical’s illusion
11.0 Intro
stress
the tension, discomfort, or physical symptoms that arise when a stressor strains our ability to cope effectively.
stressor
a type of stimulus that strains our ability to cope effectively
traumatic event
11.1 Introduction
corticosteroids
stress hormone that activates the body and prepares us to respond to stressful circumstances
posttraumatic growth
the perception of beneficial change or personal transformation in struggle to overcome adversity
Folkman and Lazarus
coined the concept of cognitive appraisal and reappraisal. They believed that coping with stress is a complex process that involves assigning meaning to a situation
primary appraisal
initial decision regarding whether an event is harmful; the initial evaluation of a situation’s relevance to one’s moral norms and personal preferences and to the likelihood of reaching one’s goals. The situation (or other stimulus) is** identified as a threat**, harm, or challenge and is followed by secondary appraisal
secondary appraisal
perceptions regarding our ability to cope with an event that follows primary appraisal; one’s evaluation of their ability to cope with the consequences of an interaction with the environment, which follows a primary appraisal
emotion-focused coping
a stress-management strategy in which a person focuses on regulating their negative emotional reactions to a stressor. Rather than taking actions to change the stressor itself, the individual tries to control feelings
* used primarily when a person appraises a stressor as beyond their capacity to change.
* Compare problem-focused coping.
problem-focused coping
a stress-management strategy in which a person directly confronts a stressor in an attempt to decrease or eliminate it.
* used primarily when a person appraises a stressor as within their capacity to change.
* Compare emotion-focused coping.
David Holmes
Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)
Social Readjustment Rating Scale
(David Holmes) effort to measure life events systematically; based on 43 life events ranked in terms of their stressfulness
hassle
minor annoyance or nuisance that strains our ability to cope
Hassles Scale
: measures how stressful events, ranging from small annoyances to major daily pressures, impact our adjustment
ecological momentary assessment
(EMA)
the process of examining the behavior of individuals at random, multiple time points to get a clearer picture of how they behave in various real-world settings
general adaptation syndrome (GAS)
stress-response pattern proposed by Hans Selye that consists of three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion
Joseph LeDoux (1996)
identified the seat of anxiety within the** limbic system** (aka the emotional brain) that includes the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus
hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis
(HPA)
- hypothalamus (H) receives fear signal
- the sympathetic nervous system activates the adrenal gland (A)
- the adrenal gland secretes the stress hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline).
steps 1-3 ready organism for fight-or-flight
- the hypothalamus and pituitary gland (P) orchestrate the adrenal gland’s release of cortisol, which floods system with energy
meanwhile hippocampus retrieves terrifying images
fight-or-flight response
first described by Walter Cannon in 1915
Walter Cannon
first person to describe fight-or-flight response
resistance
Selye’s 2nd stage of the GAS; organism adapts to the stressors and finds ways to cope with it
exhaustion
Selye’s 3rd stage of the GAS: When the body is unable to maintain its resistance to a stressor due to depleted resources, leading to a state of physical and mental breakdown; results can include damage to an organ system, depression and anxiety, immune system breakdown
PTSD and Vietnam War veterans
(Study):
40 years after combat; PTSD was more prevalent among those who were African Americans, attained lower educational levels, and experienced a negative homecoming reception and lower current social support
flashbacks
George Bonanno 9/11
(Study):
evidence for psychological adjustment: 65.1% of the sample was resilient (reporting 0-1 PTSD symptom); 25% in the WTC developed probable PTSD but more than half were resilient; people who display relatively high levels of functioning before the traumatic event tend to cope well in the aftermath of a serious stressor; people who report a history of ACEs, depression, and other emotional problems prior do not cope so well
Resilence
the most common response to traumatic events; the rule rather than the exception
Prevalence of PTSD
- 5% men,
- 10% women;
- 7-8% military personnel who served in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
Social support
the provision of assistance or comfort to others, typically to help them cope with biological, psychological, and social stressors; may take the form of practical help (e.g., doing chores, offering advice), tangible support that involves giving money or other direct material assistance, and emotional support that allows the individual to feel valued, accepted, and understood
James House, Cynthia Robbins, and Helen Metzner (1982)
11.2 Social Support
Thomas Strentz and Stephen Auerbach (1988)
11.2 Social Support
exposed airline pilots and flight attendants to a simulated hijacking attempt and four days of captivity
Behavioral control
the ability to do something to reduce the impact of a stressful situation or prevent its recurrence; problem-focused coping (PFC is generally more effective in relieving stress than is avoidance-oriented coping)
Cognitive control
the ability to think differently about negative emotions that arise in response to stress-provoking events; type of emotion-focused coping
Decisional control
the ability to choose among alternative course of action
Informational control
the ability to acquire information about a stressful event
proactive coping
a stress-management strategy that reflects efforts to build up resources that facilitate promotion toward challenging goals and personal growth; Stress is interpreted as eustress—that is, productive arousal and vital energy—and coping thus becomes goal management instead of risk management
Emotional control
the ability to control emotions in a flexible way to best meet the demands of a situation
fallacy of uniform efficacy
Bonanno and Burton (2013); phrase to describe the assumption that certain ways of coping and regulating emotion are consistently beneficial. Rather, the ability to adjust coping strategies as the situation demands is critical to contending with many stressful situations
acceptance-based coping
a coping mechanism that involves accepting emotions and situations without trying to control or avoid them. It’s a way to tolerate unpleasant experiences and behave adaptively
rumination
obsessional thinking involving excessive, repetitive thoughts or themes that interfere with other forms of mental activity
Susan Nolen-Hoeksema (1987)
re: rumination
11.2 Gaining Control
catharsis
1) in psychoanalytic theory, the discharge of previously repressed affects connected to traumatic events that occurs when these events are brought back into consciousness and reexperienced 2) more generally, the release of strong, pent-up emotions. [from Greek, literally: “purgation,” “purification”]
crisis debriefing
: designed to ward off PTSD among people exposed to trauma; usually a single-session procedure, typically conducted in groups, that usually lasts 3-4 hours, most often conducted within 1-2 days of a traumatic event , and proceeds according to standardized steps; NOT effective for trauma reactions and may increase the risk of PTSD among those exposed to trauma
hardiness
set of attitudes marked by a sense of control over events, commitment to life and work, and courage and motivation to confront stressful events; an ability to adapt easily to unexpected changes combined with a sense of purpose in daily life and of personal control over what occurs in one’s life; Salvator Maddi (1979);
Salvatore Maddi (1979)
found “hardiness”: a set of attributes found in resilient people
Suzanne Kobasa
w/ Maddi; hardiness study on 670 managers at public utility company in the US
optimism
hopefulness: the attitude that good things will happen and that people’s wishes or aims will ultimately be fulfilled. Optimists are people who anticipate positive outcomes, whether serendipitously or through perseverance and effort, and who are confident of attaining desired goals; a facilitator of social affiliation, and the tend-and-befriend response in particular; important for pair-bond formation, mate guarding, and recognition of social stimuli
spirituality
search for the sacred, which may or may not extend to a belief in God
oxytocin
(re: possible effect on stress)
tend and befriend, increases desire for social contact in response to stress
tend and befriend response
(Shelley Taylor); reaction that mobilizes people to nurture (tend) or seek social support (befriend) under stress; suggested link to oxytocin
Shelley Taylor
coined “tend and befriend”: in times of stress, women rely on their social contacts and nurturing abilities—they tend (to those around them and themselves) and befriend (turn to others for support)
Japanese Poison Ivy Study
11.2 Fight or Flight…
psychological factors can influence our physical processes
immune system
our body’s defense system against invading bacteria, viruses, and other potentially illness-producing organism and substances
phagocytes
WBC; engulf the invader
T cells
(WBC) attach to proteins on the surface of invaders, popping them like balloons
B cells
(WBC) produce proteins called antibodies, which stick to the surface of invaders, slow their progress, and attract other proteins that destroy the foreign organisms
acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS):
a life-threatening, incurable, and yet treatable condition in which the HIV attacks and damages the immune system
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV):
11.3 The Immune System
autoimmune diseases
11.3 The Immune System
psychoneuroimmunology
11.3 The Immune System
Sheldon Cohen
exposed healthy people to cold virus and determined the psychosocial factors that predicted a cold 5-6 days later. Increased risk associated with chronical interpersonal & employment related stress, less than two days a week of exercise, smoking, and inadequate levels of vitamin C. Decreased risk associated with a network of social relationships and social support, adequate and sufficient sleep, and moderate alcohol consumption
psychosomatic
- of or relating to the role of the mind (psyche) in diseases or disorders affecting the body (soma); specifically, the role of psychological factors (e.g., anxiety, depression) in the etiology and course of pathology in bodily systems. 2. characterizing an approach based on the belief that a psychological component operates in the cause of somatic disturbances. 3. of or referring to any interaction between mind and body
Franz Alexander (1950)
argued that stomach ulcers were linked to infantile cravings to be fed and feelings of dependency
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)
an unusual bacterium that thrives in stomach acid; most common cause of stomach ulcers
psychophysiological
illnesses such as asthma and ulcers in which emotions and stress contribute to, maintain, or aggravate the physical condition
biopsychosocial perspective
the view that an illness or a medical condition is the product of the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors
coronary heart disease (CHD)
damage to the heart from the complete or partial blockage of the arteries that provide oxygen to the heart; Type A trait of hostility most associated w/ CHD
Type A personality
personality type that describes people who are competitive, driven, hostile, and ambitious; a personality pattern characterized by chronic competitiveness, high levels of achievement motivation, impatience and a distorted sense of time urgency, polyphasic activity (e.g., shaving or eating while reading a newspaper), and aggressiveness and hostility
cholesterol
a waxy, fatty substance that travels in the bloodstream; in CHD: cholesterol deposits collect in the walls of the arteries, narrowing and blocking coronary arteries. creating atherosclerosis
Type D (distressed) personality
personality type that describes a person with high negative affectivity and social inhibition
Type B personality
a personality pattern characterized by low levels of competitiveness and frustration, an easygoing approach, and a lack of aggressiveness and hostility. Type B individuals typically do not feel the need to prove their superiority or abilities
heavy episodic drinking
(formally binge drinking): drinking 5+drinks in one occasion for men, and 4+ for women
aerobic exercise
exercise that promotes the use of oxygen in the body
DARE program
now, keepin’ it REAL program
complementary medicine or integrative health medicine
(CAM)
healthcare practices and products used together with conventional medicine
biofeedback
feedback by a device that provides almost an immediate output of a biological function, such as heart or skin temperature
meditation
a variety of practices that train attention and awareness
yoga
yoga
meridian
11.4 Energy Medicine
homeopathic medicine
remedies that feature a small dose of an illness-inducing substance to activate the body’s own natural defense
representativeness heuristic
a strategy for making categorical judgments about a given person or target based on how closely the exemplar matches the typical or average member of the category ; to judge the similarity b/t two things by gauging the extent to which they resemble each other (“like goes with like”)
reiki
a Japanese energy therapy and spiritual healing practice that rebalances and focuses reiki energy (qi) on different parts of the body
taxol
derived from the Pacific yew tree; shown to be effective as an anticancer drug
St. John’s Worth
not especially effective for severe depression: somewhat helpful for mild to moderate depression
R. Barker Bausell
(2007)
former advocate of **CAM **concluded that CAM treatments failed to demonstrate they are more effective than placebos or “sham” treatments
Tor Wagner
placebo cream reduced fMRI activity in pain areas of the brain
qi
11.4 Energy Medicine
energy medicine
based on the idea that disruptions in our body’s energy field can be mapped and treated
acupuncture
11.4 Energy Medicine
11.4 Energy Medicine
alternative medicine
healthcare practices and products used in place of conventional medicine
Linda Gallo and Karen Matthews
(2003)
Understanding the association between socioeconomic status and physical health: Do negative emotions play a role?
11.3 CHD, Everyday Stress, Discrimination…
Meyer Friedman and Ray Rosenman
(1959)
coined the term Type A personality; characteristics clustered under Type A description: perfectionistic, prone to hostility, stubborn, opinionated, cynical, controlling, and concerned with deadlines; hostility most associated w/ CHD
Janice Kiecolt-Glaser
Alzheimer’s caregivers and the immune system: small (standardized) wound took 24% longer to heal in Alzheimer’s caregivers. The negative psychological effects seem to be lower among black than white people
Lisa Berkman and Leonard Syme (1979)
11.2 Social Support
alarm reaction
involves excitation of the autonomic NS, the discharge of the stress hormone adrenaline, and physical symptoms of anxiety
Hans Selye
physician; published The Stress of Life which ignited the field of modern-day stress research; general adaptation syndrome (GAS)
