Psychology of Stress Flashcards
What are the 2 mechanisms/ pathways are activated by stress stimuli?
(2)
- Sympathetic Adrenal Medullary access
- Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Access
- At the same time
Describe the SAM Access:
8
Stressor => Hypothalamus triggers => Sympathetic Nervous System signals => Adrenal Medulla releases => Adrenaline & Noradrenaline:
+ Heart rate
+ Blood Pressure
- Redirect blood to specific areas
Describe HPA Access:
13
Stressor => Hypothalamus releases => Corticotropic Releasing Hormone signals => Pituitary Gland releases => Adrenocorticotropic Hormone signals => Adrenal Cortex releases => Cortisol if stressor still present 20-30 mins later:
- Maintains F&F responses
+ Sensitivity to Adrenaline and Noradrenaline
+ Blood sugar lv
+ Mental Alertness
- Release of fat
What are the dangers of the long term presence of Cortisol?
10
- Immune system = + risk of ill health
- Growth and repair = Unable to heal wounds/ Cell reproduction
- Digestion = + Risk of digestive disorders
- Reproduction = Fertility Problems
- Sleep Regulation = Insomnia Development
Why is Cortisol essential in short term for coping with acute, single stressors?
(3)
- Mobilises resources
- Temporarily + Metal and physical abilities
Why is Cortisol dangerous in the Modern World?
3
- stressor rarely physical
- stressor is repeated and acute many times
- thinking about stressor triggers responses
What is the regulatory role of Cortisol?
7
- Circadian Cortisol Profile: Sleep Regulation
+ over night => Serge of it when waking up (Cortisol Awakening Response)
– across the day => Lowest lv when going to sleep
Give examples of inside the lab (controlled) stressor testing:
(7)
- Multitasking eg: Frame-work
- Public Speaking
- Dental Treatment
- Stroop Task
- Cold pressor
- Watching gore
- Public Speaking
What are the problems with Controlled Stressor experiments?
2
Acute stressors should provide a system snapshot of how an individual would react in reality.
What are the advantages of Multitasking Framework plus Social Evaluating Multitasking?
(4)
- People find it demanding
- Causes biological stress responses: + heart rate & blood pressure
What are some examples of real world/ outside the lab stressors researchers can observe?
(7)
- Chronic stress: High stress jobs Excessive lifestyle Major Life Events Stressful living conditions Exam periods Care giving
What are some stress measuring methods researchers use?
3
- saliva samples: cortisol lv
- blood samples
- Heart beat and blood pressure measurements
What is the impact of stress on students?
2
- Elevated cortisol lv
- Stressed students get ill more often
According to combined studies (Life + Lab Stressor), how do drugs (eg: Ecstasy) affect stress pathways?
(6)
Ecstasy users report problems related to high cortisol levels:
- impaired memory, sleep problems, depression & anxiety, impaired immunity, poor health
What happens to heavy Ecstasy users in rapport to their cortisol lv and its impact?
(2)
- They have < cortisol lv
- More stressed by multi-tasking
