Stress Flashcards
Acculturative stress
stress that results from the challenges presented by adapting to a new and foreign culture p.103
Alarm reaction
the first stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome which involves the body?s initial decline and then rise in arousal to a stressor p. 109
Appraisal
an assessment or evaluation p. 115
Approach strategies
coping strategies which confront the source of the stressor p. 123
Avoidance strategies
coping strategies that evade the stressor, seeking to reduce stress by indirectly dealing with it p. 123
Benign-positive
an initial appraisal of a stimulus as neutral or good, and not causing stress for the individual p. 115
Biological stress response
the activation of autonomic nervous system responses in the face of a stressor p. 431
Challenge
a further appraisal of a stressor as potentially providing a good opportunity for growth or change for the individual p. 115
Context-specific effectiveness
when the coping strategy or mechanism used is appropriate for the demands of the stressor p. 121
Coping
the process of dealing with stress p. 115, 121
Coping flexibility
an individual?s ability to adjust or change their coping strategies depending on the unique and changing demands of a stressor p. 122
Coritsol
a hormone released into the body in times of stress p. 109
Daily pressures
small inconveniences and problems that are experienced as a part of day-to-day life p. 103
Distress
a form of stress characterised by a negative psychological state p. 102
Emotion-focussed coping
the use of coping strategies that target the emotional components of a stressor, dealing with it indirectly rather than confronting its source p. 115
Eustress
a form of stress characterised by a positive psychological state p. 103
Exercise
the performance of physical activity to improve a person?s health and wellbeing p. 122, 440
Exhaustion
the final stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome which involves the body?s defences and energy levels depleting, leading to a greatly reduced ability to cope with current and future stressors p. 109
Fight-flight-freeze response
an account given by an individual of an event they have directly observed p. 108
General Adaptation Syndrome
a model that examines the biological stages of stress involved in responding to a persistent stressor p. 109
Harm loss
a further appraisal of a stressor as having caused some damage for the individual p. 115
Irrelevant
an initial appraisal of a stimulus as a non-issue for the individual p. 115
Life events
stressors that change a person?s circumstances and force them to change something about their lifestyle p. 103
Loss of a significant relationship
losing a relationship that involved considerable emotional attachment p. 407
Major stress
stressors that present significant and negative threats to a person?s psychological and/ or physiological wellbeing p. 104
Primary appraisal
the initial process of evaluating the nature of an incoming stressor, specifically the kind of stress it will cause p. 115
Problem-focussed coping
the use of coping strategies that directly target the source of the stressor, aiming to reduce it in a practical way p. 115
Resistance
the second stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome which involves the body sustaining high levels of arousal to a persistent stressor p. 109
Secondary appraisal
the process of evaluating the resources available and required in order to cope with a stressor p. 115
Stress
a psychological and biological experience that occurs when an individual encounters something of significance that demands their attention and/ or efforts to cope p. 102, 401, 424
Stressful
an initial appraisal of a stimulus as a source of worry or emotional significance for the individual p. 115
Stressor
a stimulus (internal or external) that prompts the stress response p. 102
Threat
a further appraisal of a stressor as potentially causing damage for the individual in future p. 115
