Psych Chap 11 Textbook Flashcards
Stress
Unpleasant state of anxiety or tension.
Stressor
External situation perceived as threatening or demanding.
Coping Response
Attempts to avoid, escape, or minimize stress
- Types of Stress
• Eustress: Positive stress (e.g., getting into a desired college).
• Distress: Negative stress (e.g., being late for a meeting).
Major Life Stressors
• Significant changes impacting central areas of life (e.g., having a child).
Chronic Stress
Ongoing challenges (e.g., illness, poverty).
Daily Hassles
• Minor irritations that can accumulate into chronic stress.
Biological Stress Response
• Sympathetic Nervous System (Fast Response):
• Hypothalamus activates adrenal glands → Release of epinephrine & norepinephrine.
• Increases heart rate, redirects blood, deepens respiration (Fight or Flight).
• HPA Axis (Slow Response):
• Hypothalamus signals pituitary gland → Releases hormone to adrenal glands → Secretes cortisol.
• Cortisol increases glucose for energy but prolonged exposure can damage brain regions (e.g., hippocampus).
• Negative Feedback Loop:
• Cortisol signals hypothalamus to reduce HPA activity.
• Stress can impair working memory and long-term recall.
General Adaptation Syndrome
• Alarm → Resistance → Exhaustion (prolonged stress damages organs).
Allostatic Load:
• Accumulated stress over time makes the stress response system inflexible.
Tend-and-Befriend Response:
• Protective, caregiving, and social alliance formation in response to stress.
Primary Appraisal
Assess if a stimulus is stressful.
Secondary Appraisal
Choose coping behavior if stress is perceived.
Emotion-Focused Coping
• Emotion-Focused Coping (Short-term relief, works for uncontrollable stressors):
• Avoidance, minimization, distraction (e.g., overeating, drinking).
Problem-Focused Coping
(Long-term solution, works for controllable stressors):
• Identifying solutions, weighing costs and benefits, taking direct action.
Positive Reappraisal:
• Seeing stress as an opportunity for growth.
High Hardiness
Views threats as challenges, feels in control.
Low Hardiness
Feels powerless, resists change, blames external factors.
Pros & Cons of Coping Strategies
- Emotion-Focused Coping: Helps with uncontrollable stress but can be maladaptive if avoidance is prolonged.
• Problem-Focused Coping: Effective for controllable stress but can increase frustration if stressor is beyond control.
ACTH produced by, CRH produced by
Pituitary
Hypothalamus
The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis is the body’s slower, long-term stress response system. It regulates the release of … which affects
cortisol, a key stress hormone, which affects energy use, immune function, and memory.
Step-by-Step Activation of cortisol
- Stress Perception → Brain detects a stressor.
- Hypothalamus → Sends a chemical signal to the pituitary gland.
- Pituitary Gland → Releases ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) into the bloodstream.
- Adrenal Glands → Stimulated by ACTH, they release cortisol.
- Cortisol Effects:
• Increases glucose for energy.
• Suppresses non-essential functions (e.g., digestion, immune response).
• Helps the body prepare for prolonged stress.
Cortisol signals the hypothalamus and pituitary to reduce… which prevents … and what disrupts the negative feedback loop
HPA activity.
• Prevents excessive stress response.
• Chronic stress disrupts this loop, leading to memory issues, weakened immunity, and long-term health risks.
Impact of Chronic Stress:
• Brain Changes → Cortisol affects the hippocampus (memory) and amygdala (emotional processing).
• Allostatic Load → Long-term stress damages biological systems.
• General Adaptation Syndrome → If stress persists, the body moves from resistance to exhaustion, leading to immune suppression and organ failure.
