Psychology 111- Chapter 12 Flashcards
stress
a response elicited when a situation overwhelms a person’s perceived ability to meet the demands of the situation
stressors
events that trigger a stress response
response view of stress
focuses on physiological changes that occur when someone encounters an excessively challenging situation
relational view of stress
how stressful a situation is depends on what the situation means to you
Social Readjustment Rating Scale
quantifies stress in terms of major life changes
drawbacks to social readjustment rating scale
ignores the fact that people view similar events differently, fails to consider differences in people’s emotional responses to stressors
Hassles and Uplifts Scale
measures the frequency and intensity of minor irritations (hassles) and the positive events of daily life that counteract them
primary appraisal
quick assessment of the meaning of a given environment event for the individual, the outcome determines whether an emotional response occurs
secondary appraisal
self-assessment of resources available to cope with stress
neuroendocrine system
hormonal systems involved in emotions and stress (hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal gland are key structures)
catecholamines
chemicals released from adrenal glands that function as hormones and as neurotransmitters to control the ANS activation, they are also involved in the “fight or flight response”
- inc. dopamine and norepinephrine
glucocorticoids
hormones responsible for maintaining the activation of physiological systems during emergencies. They control many metabolic functions and mobilize resources for the body
- cortisol
adrenal-medullary system
a major neuroendocrine pathway stimulated during stress, in which the hypothalamus activates the sympathetic nervous system
hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis
major neuroendocrine pathway relevant to the stress response involving the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal cortex
cortisol
the major glucocorticoid produced in humans, also commonly known as the “stress hormone”, it regulates many important metabolic functions-> breaks down complex molecules into simpler ones
general adaptation syndrome
defined by Hans Selye as a general non-specific set of changes in the body that occur during extreme stress- 3 stages
alarm stage
- first stage of general adaptation syndrome
- the phase in which all of the body’s resources respond to a perceived threat
resistance stage
- second stage of general adaptation syndrome
- extended effort by the body to deal with a threat
exhaustion stage
- third stage of general adaptation syndrome
- when all resources for fighting the threat have been depleted and illness is more likely
allostasis
the process by which the body achieves stability through physiological change
how does stress affect the brain
- prolonged/repetitive stress causes inflammatory response that affects the brain and impacts memory and leads to greater anxiety
- cortisol release shrinks dendrites in hippocampus which can impair memory
- chronic stress reduces neurogenesis which impacts learning and memory
coping
the act of dealing with stress or emotions
problem-focused coping
a way of dealing with stress that aims to change the situation that is creating stress (ex: devising a plan to solve the problem, seeking social support as a way to gather info, and taking assertive action)
emotion-focused coping
a way of dealing with stress that aims to regulate the experience of distress (ex: reappraisal= reevaluation, distancing= separating oneself from situation, escape-avoidance= wishful thinking/doing something to get one’s mind off of situation, seeking social support= talking with friends, self-control= regulate feelings and actions regarding the problem, accepting responsibility= acknowledging role)
