Responses To Stress Flashcards
What are the other biological responses to stress other than the HPA axis?
Fight-flight response: automatic reaction to physiological arousal that prepares the body to deal with sudden threats by confronting them or running away to safety.
Activation of sympathetic and endocrine system.
What does the hypothalamus do?
Releases hormone corticotrophin which stimulates the pituitary gland.
What is the role of the pituitary gland?
Releases ACTH (andrenocorticotropic hormone) which travels through the bloodstream and stimulates the adrenal gland.
What is the role of the adrenal gland?
Releases hormones (adrenalin, noradrenaline, cortisol) which boasts activity of Sympathetic Nervous System.
What did Lazarus and Folkman propose?
An individual’s perception and assessment of the stressor determines whether they will experience stress or not. Proposed that stress involves an encounter (transaction) between an individual and their external environment, and that a stress response depends upon the individual’s interpretation (appraisal) of the stressor and their ability to cope with it.
What is the HPA axis?
Threat-> Hypothalamus-> Pituary Gland -> ACTH -> Adrenal Glands
[Once knowledgable enough, create own diagram w/definitions without using notes]
Draw the Lazarus and Folkman diagram (starting with primary appraisal to the coping resources, including emotional forecasting).
Diagram seen in exercise book.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of Lazarus and Folkman’s research?
Strengths- proposed that stress response is dependent on the individual; it took mental process, perceptions and emotions into account; used human subjects in developing the model.
Weaknesses-hard to test empirically because of subjective nature; does not acknowledge physiological and socio-cultural factors on the stress response.
What are the social, cultural and environmental factors in the stress response?
According to the biopsychosocial framework, a person’s stress response can also be influenced by social, cultural and environmental factors. Some factors can increase (exacerbate) our stress response while others can reduce alleviate our stress response.
Explain how social, cultural and environmental factors can exacerbate stress responses.
Social- loneliness, isolation; lack of social skills; relationship breakdown; bullying; loss (death)
Cultural- moving to a new culture; new language, values and customs; prejudice and discrimination.
Environmental- natural disaster; pollution; poverty; overcrowding.
Explain how social, cultural and environmental factors can alleviate stress responses.
Social- changing state of relationship (divorce); education (assertiveness classes); family, friends, social and support groups.
Cultural- moving to a new culture (escape from war); residing within one’s culture; education of the wider community.
Environmental- social support; sense of control over individual’s environment.
